Electronic Ticketing System (Details)

Name of province/ territory:

Quebec

City/ Region:

Lévis

Description of Initiative:

Electronically issuing tickets to reduce errors, delays and rejected tickets and improving the efficiency of police users.

Initiative Key Objectives:

Improved access to information on Quebec’s Highway Safety Code or CSR (facilitated searches), savings in time and improved accuracy filling out tickets, reduction in the number of rejections of erroneous tickets.

Section Responsible for Implementation:

Administrative unit (civilian) with the road safety unit team (police)

Key Contact:

Serge Carrier
scarrier@ville.levis.qc.ca

Groups/ Agencies/ Key Partners Involved:

• private agencies/corporations
• other

Level of Involvement (consultative - information sharing) and/or cooperative - direct involvement):

Emergensys: involved in upgrading software, taking into account legislative changes, e.g., regulation respecting off-highway vehicles.

Amount of Time Initiative has been in Place:

Project began 36 months ago, completed approximately 15 months ago.

Reason for Undertaking the Initiative:

Launched in order to improve the efficiency of our police service and the municipal court.

Resources Required to Implement this Initiative:

The cost of the software and equipment is approximately $200,000 and the project required 2,000 work hours in all.

Method of Implementation:

We started with a pilot project and then it was phased in.

Key Outcomes of the Initiative:

Yes, objectives were met. The project helped improve the efficiency of police officers using CSR electronic search tools to issue tickets. The database checks the sections of CSR regulations that are included; there is greater efficiency with data transmission to the municipal court; electronic payments are accepted; and delays associated with sending handwritten tickets to the municipal court are eliminated. We also added a mandatory check of data (fields) in the process, which eliminates the need for corrections. There has been a significant decrease in the number of tickets rejected, and, finally, a reduction in personnel. The police officer has electronic access to the CSR, which reduces the search time, improves accuracy and eliminates handwritten data that is difficult to read. Furthermore, police officers use the electronic system 98% of the time, virtually eliminating manual ticketing.

Extremely rigorous preparation for this method allowed information on the ticket that was of concern on handwritten tickets to be completely fixed, including the following:

• handwriting that is difficult to read or even unreadable in some cases, 100% fixed;
• errors in inputting numbers, date of birth, driver’s licence number, licence plate number, address and door number, 100% fixed;
• errors in names and incorrect addresses—these operations are done electronically and are therefore very easily readable and clear, 100% fixed;
• tickets with the wrong amount—the ticket amount is automatically written down based on the regulation in question, 100% fixed;
• it is very easy to search the Criminal Code using keywords, allowing the officer to find the applicable regulation and the applicable fine;
• problems with delays in ticket transmissions to the municipal court—all issued tickets are transferred on a daily basis to the municipal court, thus very little time elapses and there is no delay in ticket processing (the only remaining tickets are from certain motor vehicles, ATVs and snowmobiles that are not equipped), 95% fixed (only two motor vehicles need to be equipped);
• currently, over 95% of tickets are issued electronically;
• all reprocessing of tickets for these elements has been eliminated; and
• the judges really appreciate the level of accuracy of the information on the ticket.

Availability of a Communication Strategy:

Yes

Key Messages used to Publicize the Initiative:

Highlight the benefits of the system, the ease of use, keyword search, availability of electronic information and the speed of use.

Forms of Evaluation by which the Initiative will be Assessed:

• quantitative
• qualitative

Evaluation Completed or Community Feedback Received:

Yes

Summary of the Outcomes:

Key outcomes include the following:

• used for 98% of tickets (virtually no more manual ticketing);
• facility of searching CSR sections;
• very high level of satisfaction among users, ease of use;
• tickets transmitted much more quickly to the municipal court;
• electronic method of payment reduces the workload at the municipal court as well as searches and filing;
• reduces wait times for citizens who commit infractions; and
• great effect on the standard processing of information and improved ticket process.

Summary of the Performance Measure Data Collected:

N/A

Economics of Policing Pillars:

• Efficiencies within Police Services

Further Details:

Efficiencies realized in administrative personnel costs, increased number of police officers available to process complaints, significant reduction in the number of returns and follow-ups due to errors on tickets, elimination of all handwritten tickets because they are not needed.

Additional Comments or Suggestions:

Benefits include:

• elimination of filing a significant number of paper tickets;
• significant reduction in the time spent processing tickets;
• improved relations between police services and the municipal court;
• simplified archiving;
• facilitated ticket management overall;
• electronic payment of tickets is easier for citizens, managers and municipal court employees;
• cooperation between services (municipal court, IT and police); and
• modernization and standardization of work methods.

Record Entry Date:

2013-08-01