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New Technology Eliminates Paper Speeding Tickets In Balt. Co.

BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) -- Ever been stopped for speeding in Baltimore County?  Now a major technology upgrade will eliminate paper tickets, cutting down on the time you spend pulled over.

Mary Bubala reports it's one of two dozen high-tech changes announced Tuesday.

Baltimore County officials say by next year, traffic stops will be more efficient for police and drivers.  Gone will be the cumbersome handwritten paper tickets.  They'll be replaced by new, high-tech electronic citations.  It will cut traffic stop time from 20 minutes to just five.

"In the essence of efficiency, the ticket will automatically be downloaded to the district court," said County Executive Kevin Kamenetz.

Upgrades for the police department is just one of 23 initiatives Kamenetz announced Tuesday in Towson.  He hopes to have them all in place within six to 18 months.

"The total upfront cost of these projects is approximately $5 million and we expect to recoup the costs in as little time as two or three months and as outward as five years," he said.

County residents will see tech upgrades in many areas, from the Department of Aging's County Ride program to online permitting for building, plumbing and electric.  Police will also be able to complete crime reports from their cars.

"Violent crime in Baltimore County is at 1970 levels and I often say it's due to the hard, old school police work, but technology has really made a difference.  It has, in fact, reduced crime in Baltimore County," said Baltimore County Police Chief Jim Johnson.

With web-based training, the police department reduced its in-service training by a full day.  That savings allowed them to put an additional seven police officers on the streets.

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