Local smartphone innovation set to catch unscrupulous motorists

BY CONRAD HAMILTON Sunday Observer senior reporter hamiltonc@jamaicaobserver.com

Sunday, February 19, 2012

NEW computer software developed right here in Jamaica by the state-owned Fiscal Services Limited is helping catch motorists who are driving around with fraudulent documents, outstanding traffic tickets or even arrest warrants.

According to the head of the Jamaica Constabulary Force's traffic division, Superintendent Radcliffe Lewis, the initiative — which began as a pilot project earlier this year in Kingston and St Andrew — has already resulted in the arrests of several such persons and the recovery of one stolen motor vehicle.

"We have a few police with smartphones and they can check on the system for driver's licences. They can also check for registration plates, traffic tickets and warrants. Within the next couple of weeks that thing could be going islandwide," he said.

As proof of its effectiveness, a senior officer at the traffic division asked this reporter for his driver's licence number which he entered into his BlackBerry device.

"You see this?" said Inspector Gary McKenzie, displaying complete records related to my licence, including address, date of birth, expiry date of the driver's licence, as well as confirmation that there was no issue regarding outstanding traffic tickets.

Lewis explained that the mechanism was developed based on discussions between the Government's information and communications technology firm, Fiscal Services Ltd, and the Police High Command. The latter will shortly determine how many BlackBerry phones will be needed to seriously impact the proliferation of fraudulent car documents now being illicitly purchased and carried by Jamaican motorists.

As he bragged about the system's effectiveness, Lewis led the Sunday Observer news team to a Honda Civic motor car that was among several impounded vehicles on the Elletson Road premises of the Constabulary's Motorised Patrol Division.

"This vehicle was stopped and checked and when the policeman tried to verify the chassis number it did not correspond with what appeared on the cellphone. The man (driver) was held and the experts from the stolen motor vehicle unit and forensic lab used their skills to show that the chassis number was tampered with," Lewis said, adding that the offender is in police custody.

He, however, acknowledged that a more sophisticated solution is needed to detect persons driving around with fake motor vehicle insurance cover notes. He said currently, the police have to confirm such information by calling the insurance companies. However, this is only effective during the opening hours of the insurance firms.