Wairarapa cops get SMART

Traffic police in Wairarapa will soon be dishing out roadside tickets using smart devices.
The devices are branded SMART, which stands for secure mobile access and reporting technology. They were trialled by Southern Districts police in May last year.
A batch of 200 devices have been issued to highway patrol groups in Canterbury, Tasman, Wellington, Central, Bay of Plenty and Waikato districts.
A second batch will be delivered to all remaining patrol groups in the country by September.
Wairarapa police roading manager Chris Megaw said traffic patrols in the region will receive their devices in the second round of deliveries, although he has sighted one of the devices this week.
"The idea is to cut down on data entry errors and double-handling. It should makes things easier and more efficient," Mr Megaw said.
The hand-held machine allows officers to key in basic data about people and vehicles and issue roadside infringement notices.
The device comprises touch screens and a laser to read the barcode on a driver's licence, portable printers connected through Bluetooth technology and an alternative smartphone with a traditional keypad.
The small machines allow police to access information directly rather than going through the police communications centres.