Police officer testifies in court describing use of E-Ticketing device he is holding.
Bay County Eying Electronic Traffic Ticketing, Several Millage Requests
E-Ticketing Would Cover 12,000 Violations Issued Annually in City, County
May 2, 2010
By: Dave Rogers
Bay County Commissioners on Tuesday will consider a request from Sheriff John W. Miller to appropriate $90,000 to start a fee-based electronic traffic ticket program in the county and Bay City.
The sheriff's request was received by the Ways and Means Committee on April 6 after a presentation by the sheriff, Under sheriff Mike Janiskee and 74th District Court Administrator Kim Mean. It will be discussed Tuesday for a recommendation to the full board meeting on May 11.
The E-Ticket proposal is sought "to improve efficiency, reduce required paperwork and improve officer safety," the sheriff wrote to Donald Tilley, committee chair.
The program would involve use of 25 computers for patrol vehicles provided by a previous grant.
Between the city and the county 12,000 violations were issued in 2009, 7,000 by the county and 5,000 by the city. "This is a good time to move forward on implementing the E-Ticketing system in Bay County," the sheriff said.
"This is a computerized system in patrol cars whereby traffic violations can be processed and printed out on the spot and sent to District Court, the state and the offender," said Sheriff Miller.
Officers will use a handheld mobile computer to scan a driver's license bar code which will automatically enter the data onto the ticket. The officer can then enter the traffic violation(s) and capture the driver's signature on the handheld device.
The officer will be able to provide the driver with a printed receipt that includes information about the violation, court date and a phone number to call for more information.
"This type of reporting streamlines the work process for the courts since no paper is involved," said the sheriff. "It eliminates the need to purchase about 280 ticket books each year and cuts down on manpower time, he said.
Saginaw County charges a $5 fee which is used for computer replacement, according to the sheriff, who added: "A savings of personnel time will be realized in district court as well as currently 30 hours per week are spent on ticket processing."
County commissioners also will consider:
Supporting a ways and means committee resolution in opposition to the governor's proposal to move $2.6 million from the sheriff's secondary road patrol fund to the Michigan State Police budget;
Placing on the August ballot a renewal of the 1.2 mill operating millage for four years for the Bay County Library System;
An August ballot request for renewal of a .50 six year millage for Senior Citizen programs run by the Division on Aging;
Renewal request on the August ballot for a .70 six year 9-1-1 Central Dispatch Millage question;
Seek Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment funding for bacteria source tracking projects and forecasting at Bay County beaches;
Continue to act as fiduciary agent for grant funds for the Homeland Security Grant Program and accept $101,301 in reimbursement for expenses;
Continue to act as fiduciary agent for the 14-county Region 3 for the Michigan Citizens Corps and accept a $41,523 grant to prepare for overall disaster initiatives; and
Accept a $325,000 grant, with in-kind services from the county as a match, and hire Spicer Engineering Group for design and engineering services for improvements to Pinconning Park.
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