Three developments are happening right now at the Department of Public Safety. They are the “electronic-citation”, or e-ticket, which has an issued traffic violation ticket automatically received by the District Court, the Honolulu Police Department has accepted Police Commissioner Le’i Sonny Thompson’s request for assistance in training DPS’ Vice & Narcotics team, and the RO or Registered Owner program.

These three developments are the latest improvements at DPS that Le’i shared yesterday with Samoa News, during an interview in his office.

The police commissioner noted the developments are in keeping with his promise to the Fono and others regarding improvements to the department, which includes ensuring training is implemented for men and women in uniform.

VICE AND NARCOTICS

“My priority is to train the police force,” he said, adding that he had made this promise since taking over the police commissioner post early this year.

Le’i then revealed that the Honolulu Police Department “has accepted our request to help us with the vice and narcotic team” training.

“I just sent a letter to them to send some officers to conduct our training and they will, to help us and that’s forthcoming,” he said.

ELECTRONIC TICKETING

This week, DPS launched a new program called “e-citation” or “electronic citation”, with five laptops being used by police vehicles out on the road to issue traffic tickets to motorist, who are found in violation of traffic laws, the police commissioner said.

At the same time, “we still continue to have our ticket books” for other vehicles without laptops and in the event that the laptop is not operating due to various reasons,” he said.

“So nothing has changed except we are now automating the ticketing process. And eventually all our vehicles will be equipped with laptops so that they (officers) will be able to expedite the ticketing process,” Le’i said during a Samoa News interview at his office. “It’s very good, it’s advanced, just like off island.”

He expressed appreciation to the support of Chief Justice Michael Kruse, Chief Associate Judge Mamea Sala Jr., District Court Judge Elvis P. Patea and others at the Judicial Branch that made this effort possible, as well as staff at DPS.

RO — REGISTERED OWNER

Another program now operational is called RO, or registered owner. Le’i explained the program, saying that now when a cop stops a motorist on the road for possible traffic violation, he or she can now call the car’s license plate number into the police dispatcher.

The dispatcher then keys the information into the police main computer system, which would provide information about the vehicle — such as the registered owner, when it was registered, the color and type of vehicle.

Perhaps even more important for this system is during nighttime and during rainy times, when officers are out on the road.

“Now a days, when you stop somebody on the road, especially at night, you don’t know who’s in the car, or what’s in the car,” he said. “So the RO is important to our police officers out on the road.”

Meanwhile, Le’i said Police Week in American Samoa kicks off on Sunday — Mother’s Day — with a church service starting at 4p.m. at the CCCAS Fagaalu and the public is invited.  Then the rest of the weeks are police activities with more details to come available soon.

And police will start on May 13th the “Click-it or ticket” campaign, which is a US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration campaign aimed at increasing the use of seat belts.

The “Click-it or ticket” campaign also corresponds with graduation season on island, with the American Samoa Community College graduation first in line on May 19, followed by Manumalo on May 26, Marist/ Faasao on May 27, and then public high schools from June 2- 9, and two private high schools rounding off the graduation season on June 10 and June 19.