What's the point, or am I missing something?

[Omega-TI]

I constantly hear the Longview, WA police running license plates with the comm center to get a return on make, color, expiration and registered to with wants and warrants if any. The thing is I've also seen them doing what appears to be the same thing on data terminals in their vehicles. Granted the times I see them using the terminals is usually when they are ticketing a parked vehicle. So the question is, are these two separate systems? If not, do they use voice for immediate returns when otherwise occupied? Just curious.

 

[mass-man]

Can't speak for your town, but here in my mid size town in TX, the SOP is using the data terminal when not moving, radio for other! I have done a couple of ride alongs for work, and asked that very question.

 

[chrismol1]

In my area, they'll often ask dispatch for 'rolling data' while following vehicle or asking dispatch to run vehicle/registered operator information. Sometimes they'll be at the window and need to keep an eye on the occupants while requesting data on the vehicle/registered operator. Sometimes taking eyes off to use computer isn't in best interest or immediately available when out of the car.

 

[3King]

I constantly hear the Longview, WA police running license plates with the comm center to get a return on make, color, expiration and registered to with wants and warrants if any. The thing is I've also seen them doing what appears to be the same thing on data terminals in their vehicles. Granted the times I see them using the terminals is usually when they are ticketing a parked vehicle. So the question is, are these two separate systems? If not, do they use voice for immediate returns when otherwise occupied? Just curious.

It is the same system, they can run that information two different ways, If a LPD dispatcher is taking care of another issue and they just simply cant do what an officer asks them for, most the time that officer who needs that done of the question you ask, they have the ability to do that job themself so they dont have to load more on to a dispatched than what theyre currently doing. nothing new