More Efficient Electronic Tickets First in Halifax

People pulled over for traffic infractions in Halifax might see a difference in the look of the ticket they receive.

Ten Halifax Regional Police and Halifax District RCMP police vehicles have been equipped to allow officers to create and print electronic tickets in their vehicles. It is the initial phase in a plan to roll out electronic tickets across Halifax Regional Municipality.

The electronic ticket project is part of a larger provincial initiative to move from handwritten to electronic tickets across Nova Scotia.

"I congratulate Halifax Regional Municipality on being the first municipality in the province to take advantage of a new, streamlined electronic ticketing process," said Justice Minister Ross Landry. "Electronic tickets are more efficient, enhance safety and reduce costs. We worked closely with HRM make this project a reality, and we look forward to helping other municipalities adopt electronic tickets."

Electronic tickets have many benefits, including:

• illegibility issues and the potential for errors associated with hand-written tickets are greatly reduced
• the direct interface from the police to the court system eliminates the need to enter data twice and will make it easier for people to arrange court dates
• the time to issue a ticket is reduced, allowing officers to move on to their next call and people to go on their way more quickly. Less time spent at the roadside will increase both officer and public safety

"Electronic tickets will enhance our productivity, allow us to more effectively address those quality-of-life issues that are of concern to our citizens and give us additional time to serve and protect our community," said Halifax Regional Police Supt. Bill Moore.

The testing is expected to last four to six weeks before a full roll out of the electronic ticketing to all HRP/RCMP patrol vehicles.