HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania State Police now are using computer technology to issue electronic traffic citations, a step that Commissioner Frank E. Pawlowski said makes troopers more efficient and safer.
“The system cuts in half the amount of time a trooper needs to issue a citation, allowing the officer to get back on the road more quickly to resume patrol duties,” Pawlowski said. “In addition, troopers no longer have to spend time transporting the citations to the local magisterial district judge; the citation information is transmitted electronically.”
Pawlowski said the system enhances officer safety by reducing the time troopers remain in exposed and potentially dangerous situations along roadways while issuing citations.
“Troopers are at increased risk whenever they are out of their patrol vehicles to issue a citation,” he said.
Pawlowski said the new computer-generated traffic citations will be printed on legal-size thermal paper, which, he said, will help to eliminate any confusion that may have resulted from the handwritten, carbon copy forms used in the past.
The electronic citation system is part of the Pennsylvania State Police TraCS project, which stands for Traffic and Criminal Software. As part of the project, state police earlier developed computerized crash reports that are submitted to PennDOT.
Pawlowski said the department tested the citation system using pilot programs in several state police troop areas late last year.
“Feedback from the field has been positive,” he said. “We estimate that this system could cut by half the 15 minutes typically required to issue a citation in the past.”
Pawlowski noted that when a driver’s license and registration information is entered into a patrol vehicle’s computer, state and national databases are automatically checked to determine whether outstanding warrants exist for the driver or whether the vehicle has been reported stolen. The driver’s license and registration data from the records check can then be automatically inserted into the traffic citation form.
As an added efficiency, the system sends the citation information electronically through the Pennsylvania Justice Network, or JNET, to the Administrative Office of the Pennsylvania Courts, which relays it to magisterial district justices. The information is sent directly from the system to the Philadelphia Traffic Court in appropriate cases.
In the future, Pawlowski said state police commanders can use the data to develop specific local enforcement programs.
“This is a valuable tool for targeting traffic law violators and making our roads safer for everyone,” Pawlowski said.
Pawlowski said the TraCS system was implemented by state police late last week in all counties except Westmoreland County, where an update of a computer system used by magisterial district judges is taking place. The TraCS system will be used in Westmoreland County starting on Feb. 1.
HARRISBURG – Six people were killed in crashes investigated by Pennsylvania State Police during the four-day New Year’s holiday travel period, which ran from Dec. 31 through Jan. 3, Commissioner Frank E. Pawlowski announced.
Five of those killed were not wearing seatbelts and four of the deaths resulted from alcohol-related crashes, he said.
“Too many lives are lost because people drive after they’ve been drinking or because they do not buckle up when they travel,” Pawlowski said.
He said that in addition to the six fatalities, 288 other people were injured in the 1,131 crashes to which troopers responded during the holiday driving period. He said 95 of the crashes were alcohol-related.
During the driving period, troopers issued 2,112 speeding citations; arrested 244 people for driving under the influence; cited 254 individuals for not wearing seatbelts; and issued citations to 21 persons for failing to properly secure children in safety seats.
The report does not include statistics on incidents that were handled by other law enforcement agencies in the state.
During the 2009 New Year’s holiday driving period, which covered five days, seven people were killed and 278 others were injured in the 984 crashes to which state police responded.
BLOOMING GROVE – The Pennsylvania State Police in Blooming Grove are announcing they’re 2009 Blanket Giveaway project will be distributing warmth to all area residents in need this winter.
According to Troop R spokesperson and project organizer Michele Worzel, the giveaway will take place at the Wallenpaupack North Primary School on December 16 and 17 from 6 until 9 p.m.
The state police in Blooming Grove are urging any one who can use a bit of help keeping warm this winter to come in and take what you need.
“It doesn’t matter where you live,” said Worzel. “Its there to help everyone. Please don’t be embarrassed to come in and take what you need. There are more and more people being laid off daily.”
Worzel said our state police in Blooming Grove are thanking everyone who took part in the project for their time and generosity.
Jerry Bruno of Lake Ariel under Arrest in Connection with Hawley Sunoco Mart Robbery.
HAWLEY – The Pennsylvania State Police think they have the man who robbed a Lake Wallenpaupack convenience store at gunpoint last summer.
According to Pennsylvania State Trooper Sandra VanLuvender, 45-year-old Jerry Bruno of Lake Ariel was arrested and charged on November 17 in connection with the August 31 armed robbery of the Sunoco Mart located across Route 6 from Wallenpaupack High School.
A significant amount of cash was taken during the holdup.
Bruno has waived his right to a preliminary hearing in front of district magistrate Jay Rose. He now awaits his trial date in the Pike County Correctional Facility in Blooming Grove, after failing to post a $25,000 bail.
HARRISBURG –Pennsylvania State Police and hundreds of municipal police departments will work with PennDOT to increase traffic safety enforcement from now until the New Year’s holiday weekend.
As part of Operation Safe Holiday, police will use sobriety checkpoints, roving patrols and regular traffic safety patrols to focus on impaired, aggressive and unbuckled motorists. More than 250 drivers were cited for driving under the influence during Operation Safe Holiday enforcement last year.
According to PennDOT, the Thanksgiving holiday period resulted in the most crashes of any holiday in 2008. There were more than 5,300 crashes and 53 fatalities during that span, which includes the weekends before and after the holiday.
To increase safety on long trips, PennDOT encourages motorists to make sure they are well-rested and alert. It is also a good idea to rotate drivers and take frequent breaks.
PennDOT reminds motorists that weather and road conditions can deteriorate quickly at this time of year. Motorists should always check the weather forecast before traveling and make sure their vehicle is equipped with a winter emergency kit.
Information on travel delays, road conditions and weather forecasts is also available by calling 511 from a landline or cell phone, or logging onto www.511pa.com before you leave home.
HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania State Police and enforcement officers from the Public Utility Commission placed 100 trucks out of service and issued 451 traffic citations during an Oct. 7 enforcement effort focusing on commercial vehicles that transport hazardous materials, said State Police Commissioner Frank E. Pawlowski.
More than 100 trucks were inspected in Pike and surrounding counties as follows:
Troop N (Carbon, Columbia, Monroe and part of Luzerne counties), 39 vehicles inspected; two vehicles placed out of service; 13 citations issued;
Troop R (Lackawanna, Pike, Susquehanna and Wayne counties), 76 vehicles inspected; 11 vehicles placed out of service; 49 citations issued.
“About 200 trucks transporting hazardous materials are involved in fatal crashes and 5,000 others are involved in non-fatal crashes each year on our nation’s highways,” Pawlowski said. “The goal of the detail was to minimize the potential for human injury and property damage that may result from hazardous material transport crashes.”
The Commercial Motor Vehicle Safe Transportation of Placarded Substances detail, or S.T.O.P.S., inspected 1,252 placarded commercial vehicles during the one-day enforcement effort. In addition to placing vehicles out of service and issuing traffic citations, officers issued 1,059 written warnings for vehicle and driver violations and placed 30 drivers out of service.
“Enforcement activities such as this are an important part of making our highways safer for all travelers,” said PUC Chairman James H. Cawley. “As shown by the number of vehicles placed out of service and the citations issued, the ongoing monitoring of those transporting hazardous materials is a key component of Pennsylvania’s highway safety efforts.”
MONROE COUNTY – Pennsylvania State Police have issued a Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign during this upcoming weekend, August 14-16, on highways and roadways in Monroe County that are experiencing a high volume of DUI arrests and crashes. The DUI Sobriety Checkpoints will be manned by members of the PA State Police stationed at Swiftwater.
HERSHEY – The Pennsylvania State Police in Hershey are now accepting applications for its 2009 Citizens Police Academy. The program will begin on Tuesday, September 8, from 6 PM to 8 PM. The class will be held every Tuesday for 7 weeks ending October 20.
Among the topics to be presented are: History and Structure of the Pennsylvania State Police, Traffic Law and Crash Investigation, Use of Drug Dogs, Special Emergency Response Team, Role of the Patrol Trooper, Criminal Investigations, Forensics, Aviation, Mounted Police Unit, and Use of Force.
Interested Pennsylvania residents (18 and older) may apply for the class by completing an application form. You may download a form here.
Applications may be submitted at the Academy or mailed to: Tpr. Michael Markey, 175 East Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, PA, 17033.
Completed forms must be returned to the Pennsylvania State Police Academy no later than August 23, 2009. Class size will be limited.
