Left to right: Megan LaMade (Traffic Safety Research Associate), Jeanette Bennett (Law Enforcement Liaison), Sebastian Smelko (Governor's Policy Director), Mary DePrez (JTAC), Ryan Klitsch, and Phil Oliver (Law Enforcement Liaison)

The Indiana Supreme Court has been honored with the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) Peter K. O’Rourke Special Achievement Award for notable achievements in highway safety. The award was presented at the GHSA national highway safety meeting in Savannah, Georgia on August 31st.

The Indiana Supreme Court, Division of State Court Administration Judicial Technology & Automation Committee received the prestigious national honor for its positive impact on traffic safety in Indiana.  The Awards Committee pointed to the Court’s “development of a uniform, electronic ticketing system to enhance the efficiency and consistency of the traffic ticketing process in Indiana.”

The electronic Citation and Warning System (eCWS) also known as e-Ticket was created in 2007 by the Indiana Supreme Court under the direction of State Court Administration’s Judicial Technology and Automation Committee (JTAC). “Our goal is to have a comprehensive traffic system that is safer for police and the public,” explained Indiana Supreme Court Justice Frank Sullivan, Jr. who serves as the JTAC Chairman.  “We also work to ensure it is more efficient for taxpayers.  It is an honor to accept this award on behalf of our legislative and executive branch partners who have devoted resources to bringing this 21st-century technology to our state.”

The system allows law enforcement officers to use a hand held device to scan a bar code on a driver’s license and vehicle registration to quickly create a traffic ticket.  The e-Ticket can then be sent electronically to the new court case management system, called Odyssey, being implemented throughout the state.  Odyssey can send driver conviction and suspension information electronically to the BMV.  This eliminates data errors and saves countless dollars on administrative time, paper filing and tracking.  The time needed for a traffic stop is greatly reduced with e-Ticket which allows for enhanced officer and public safety.

Mary DePrez, JTAC’s Director was honored to receive the award.  “The Peter K. O’Rourke Special Achievement Award represents the hard work and dedication of numerous partners and is a tremendous honor,” explained DePrez.  “We are especially grateful for the financial support of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and our other partners who helped us put the e-Ticket system in place in Indiana.”

More than 125 law enforcement agencies across Indiana are using e-Ticket.  The software and training are provided to law enforcement agencies at JTAC’s cost.  The Indiana Supreme Court works in partnership with the Indiana State Police, Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, the BMV and law enforcement officials including the Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police, the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association, and local departments across the state. Over a million warnings and tickets have already been created using e-Ticket.  More information can be found online at courts.IN.gov/jtac/programs/ecws.html.

The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) is a nonprofit association representing the highway safety offices of states, territories, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. GHSA provides leadership and representation for the states and territories to improve traffic safety influence national policy and enhance program management. Its members are appointed by their Governors to administer federal and state highway safety funds and implement state highway safety plans.  For more information on GHSA contact Jonathan Adkins at 202-789-0942 or visit www.ghsa.org