MEMORANDUM

TO: City Council

FROM: David J. Deutsch, City Manager

SUBJECT: Status Report/Council Poll

DATE: January 24, 2008

Status Report

1. GOCCP Grant Award to the Bowie Police Department

On November 2, 2007 the City of Bowie applied for a Byrne-Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) through the Governor’s Office of Crime, Control and Prevention. On January 23, 2008 the award of $21,000 was received by the City of Bowie. This award was granted to assist the Bowie Police Department purchase technology and equipment to begin implementation of the “E-Ticket” program. The purchase of the necessary equipment will improve the operational effectiveness of law enforcement through the use of technology.

The “E-Ticket” system provides Bowie Police Officers the capability to scan a driver’s license and transfer the information to a citation in less time than currently required manually, thereby also reducing the time spent to complete a traffic citation from an average of ten minutes to about thirty seconds. This system also enhances the accuracy of the information being entered into the citation system and the court system. In the United States, approximately 20% of all traffic citations are dismissed in court because of incorrect statute numbers or other administrative data errors. This system simultaneously checks the driver’s license information for validity and outstanding warrants. Additionally, by using this system, drivers are not required to sign the citation, further reducing time spent on the traffic stop as well as increasing Officer safety as a whole.