Tasmania Police Use iPhone App To Nab Unregistered Vehicles And Drivers

iphone_tasmania-police
Dec 22, 2009
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technology developed 'in-house', Tasmania Police have caught 167 unregistered vehicles on the State's roads in its first 10 days of operation.

Some 107 disqualified and unlicenced drivers were caught in the same period.

Introduced earlier this month, the new system is installed not only in Police patrol cars, but as an application on Police-issued Apple iPhones and other mobile devices.

By entering a vehicle's registration number, the system's operator is able to transmit the details to a central database and retrieve vital information within moments.

Similarly, officers can use the Police-only iPhone app, along with the device's 3G connection, to achieve the same results when away from the vehicle.

The system, which allows officers to check for outstanding warrants and whether an individual has a police record, has been introduced to save officers from contacting Radio Dispatch Services to complete a check.

Apart from checking up on vehicles and individuals, the in-car computer logs jobs, tracks the location of police vehicles and acts as a GPS navigation system.


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Comments

  • Dave [reply]
    7 months ago 0 points
    Mere mortals aren't allowed to use hand held GPS equipment in their vehicles yet police can?? I agree it's trick bit of gear and it's working.. but what's good for the goose should be good for the gander!
  • Grumps [reply]
    7 months ago 0 points
    I would say that they wouldn't use it whilst driving, they would still use the radio for that.

    It would be more of a convenience thing i.e not having to wait for the radio traffic to clear or if they are standing out doing RBT or such they can do a check without having to walk back to the police car.
  • AWD [reply]
    7 months ago 0 points
    When it comes to law enforcement, the rules are not the same for Police. If they need to do a U-turn across double lines to catch a speeding driver going the opposite way, they can. If they need to pick up an iPhone to access data or an app, they are allowed to.
  • Geek [reply]
    7 months ago 0 points
    this is the most true statement about the application, the reports that it takes pictures and detects the plates in that way are false.
  • Sonja [reply]
    7 months ago 0 points
    The in vehicle mobile data terminal units have been installed into Tasmania Police vehicles which are primarily used for two person patrols. This allows the passenger to operate the terminal and the driver to concentrate on the task of driving.

    The Iphone has been trialed by police performing motorcycle duties and is only used whilst the rider is off the bike doing roadside checks. Both forms of mobile data have enabled a reduction in air traffic to radio dispatch services and are particularly useful in areas where radio communications are unreliable.

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