Drivers who get pulled over by some Broward Sheriff's Office deputies
shouldn't expect to get off without a ticket -- but they can expect
the ticket-writing experience to take a lot less time.
Nearly 60 deputies are using a handheld device called the PocketCitation,
which scans the magnetic strip on a license for driver information,
allows a deputy to fill out other blanks from drop-down menus and
spits out a ticket on a small wireless printer.
The gadget is the brainchild of Jeffrey Rubenstein, a reserve officer
for the Delray Beach Police Department and president and CEO of
Advanced Public Safety in Deerfield Beach.
''I did it initially because it was helping me as an officer,''
Rubenstein said.
According to a press release from BSO, the device is getting ''rave
reviews'' from the 51 motorcycle deputies and seven highway unit
deputies who use it. The department bought more than 60 of the devices
late last year.
Rubenstein said the PocketCitation makes things easier and safer
for an officer by cutting down on the amount of time it takes to
issue a ticket -- and smoother for the driver, who has less time
to sit on the side of the road and stew.
''It's not safe to be writing and ticketing for 20 minutes,'' Rubenstein
said. ``If you can get them in and out in three to four minutes,
the citizen is much happier.''
