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INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Supreme Court’s Judicial Technology and Automation Committee (JTAC), Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (CJI) and law enforcement officials have collaborated to produce a hand-held e-ticket system for motorcycle and traffic enforcement officers.

The system, called eCWS (electronic Citation and Warning System) is being piloted by law enforcement officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Indiana State Police, Boone County Sheriff’s Department and Fishers Police Department.  

“Having accurate records produced in the field that can be transferred seamlessly to the courts will reduce unneeded double data entry. From the creation of a ticket during traffic stop to assigning a case number in local courts information will be entered just once, and be available much more quickly,” said Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard.

To date, more than 325,000 electronic tickets have been processed through the eCWS laptop system used in patrol cars by more than 1,600 officers. The mobile unit is being piloted by:  

Senior Trooper Gary Thalls – Indiana State Police
Sergeant Steve Pickett – Fishers Police Department
Deputy Sheriff Sean Kutz – Boone County Sheriff’s Department
IMPD Officer James Goddard
IMPD Officer John Haggard

A demonstration of the eCWS desktop application can be viewed online at http://www.in.gov/judiciary/jtac/programs/ecws.html

The eCWS MOBILE program is funded in part through an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) for the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance and administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.  JAG funding allows states and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their own local needs and conditions. Grant funding was also provided by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.

Pictured at right: (Top) The new mobile version of the eCWS system works on handheld devices, giving officers a more portable option for issuing e-tickets and is especially useful for motorcycle units;

(Middle) Gary Thalls (left), Indiana State Police Senior Trooper, demonstrates the mobile application to Wayne County Sheriff Matt Strittmatter, president of the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association;

(Bottom) Indiana Supreme Court Justice Frank Sullivan, Jr., intiates the press conference announcing the new software; also pictured are his fellow presenters: (left to right) Mark Renner, Marion County Deputy Director of Public Safety; Lt. Col. Phil Parker, Indiana State Police; Indiana Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard; and John von Arx, Indiana Policy Director for Public Safety.