Traffic Newsroom

Washington Goes Electronic with Traffic Tickets

OLYMPIA, WA—Drivers stopped for violating traffic laws in Washington, or who are involved in a collision, are going to see something new. Currently, a select group of officers from local and state law enforcement agencies are using a system that allows electronic ticketing and collision reporting. Preliminary feedback indicates a reduction in traffic stop times.

"Prior to testing the electronic system, I timed a number of my traffic stops," said Officer David Johansen of the Lacey Police Department. "Electronic ticketing has cut these times by about half, allowing drivers to get back on the road faster." A study will be conducted to determine the amount of time officers actually save. Results are expected in fall 2007.

Violators receive printed copies of citations for their records, but they are no longer required to sign them.

Officers—be it city police, county sheriffs or state troopers—can use an in-vehicle computer to create electronic tickets and collision reports. This information is then encrypted and sent to the necessary agencies.

"Electronic ticketing is a common-sense program that will improve accuracy and accountability," said Governor Chris Gregoire. "It allows law enforcement officers to spend more time protecting the public and less time filling out paperwork."

Each year, nearly 160,000 collision reports and more than one million traffic tickets are processed in Washington. This program will eliminate the need for multiple agencies to re-enter information.

The Washington State Department of Transportation estimates, and a national study found, that approximately 10 percent of all tickets and collision reports contain errors. The program is specifically designed to eliminate errors.

This initiative will result in better data being delivered faster. The information is important because it helps organizations make decisions on roadway improvements and collision and fatality reduction—in addition to improving licensing records and expediting court cases. Time-savings within agencies can be used on other needed services for the public.

The electronic ticketing and collision reporting system is part of a much larger initiative, called eTRIP (Electronic Traffic Information Processing). A group of state and local agencies, frustrated by the redundant data entry and numerous inaccuracies of the current paper-based system, created the eTRIP initiative.