By Robert Medley
Managing Editor
In the modern day of police work, the most dangerous villain could be a certain virus.
Technology is helping officers stay safe during traffic stops and their contact with the public.
Okarche police have the latest technology aboard for issuing digital citations, said Police Chief Forrest Smith.
“This last week, after six months in the making, we rolled out the newest technology for digital citations. We have been working in collaboration with Saltus Technologies, to obtain the most proficient and advanced software for eCitations,” Smith said
Each Okarche patrol car is outfitted with a digital printer that allows the officer to print citations, warnings, accident information and numerous other actions, all while in the vehicle. Further, each officer has the ability to access OLETS (Oklahoma Law Enforcement Telecommunication System) from their hand-held IOS devices.
Smith said he hopes the new printers will help reduce the time of a traffic stop, increase officer and public safety.
Making traffic stops shorter increases safety, he said.
Officers will be able to increase productivity.
Officers in 2022 have already written 23 traffic citations and 25 warnings to motorists.
There were 53% of tickets written for speeding, 11% for school zone speeding violations and 22% were for those going 20 mph over the speed limit. Also, 12% of tickets were written for drivers have no Driver’s License. Another 8% were for running red lights.
In 2021, officers wrote 713 citations and 401 warnings. In 2020, there were 244 citations and 265 warnings issued. COVID-19 measures were rolled out causing fewer tickets, and a lower impact on citations/activity, Smith said.
“As the data shows, officers have been very busy in keeping residents safe. With our new eCitation system, we can even increase that safety not only to our residents but our officers as well. Traffic stops are the deadliest activity we as police officers do,” Smith said. “My job is to make sure these officers go home to their families at the end of their shift. By lessening the amount of time they spend on a traffic stop, increases their safety and my promise I made to their loved ones.”
