Keeping pace with technology: For cops, exit Blackberry, enter hi-tech devices

BENGALURU: The city traffic police set a benchmark when it introduced BlackBerry devices for law enforcement. That was in 2008. Upping the ante, the Bengaluru Traffic Police is replacing the outdated devices with new handsets that have a point-of sale device and printing facility .

For a start, 75 devices have been ordered. These devices will allow citizens to swipe their cards to pay a fine, and receive a receipt. The new devices are also equipped to check the genuineness of documents (such as driving licences and registration certificates), which motorists are expected to carry.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) R Hitendra said that the plan had been in the pipeline for the past six months and a couple of manufacturers had approached the department with device options.“We have now finalised the device and placed the order. By the end of March, 75 assistant sub-inspectors and inspectors will have them.“ The department plans to order more, depending on how they work on the field. The BlackBerry project was the first step towards digitising the penalty process. Before 2008, carbon copies of handwritten receipts were handed out for violations. Although receipts were digitised, the scope for corruption was high as enforcers handled cash. What's more, the system could not identify re peat of fenders.BlackBerry 612 was a big step for ward, but has not kept up with the changing needs.

Demonetisation spurred cashless penalties, with the city police connecting a PoS machine to the Blackberry. A separate portable printer was also attached. The system is proving to be cumbersome and proving to be cumbersome and not user-friendly. Cubbon Park traffic inspector Prathap Reddy N points out that the 11 Blackberry devices currently used by his men have many technical and hardware prob lems. The new device converges all the functions. Electronic City traffic police inspector Madegowda said: “ After the towing charges were increased, we notice that most people do not carry so much cash on their person. They ask for a card-swiping facility . We faced a lot of issues, particularly during November and December 2016.“