Upgrade helps Ballarat police target traffic crime

Ballarat police have received upgraded technology to combat traffic crime, with new mobile data terminals delivered this week. The terminals allow officers to instantly access information on a driver or a vehicle when out on the road, reducing the need for third parties to assist roadside police members access information.Ballarat Highway Patrol sergeant Stuart Gale said a key factor of the upgraded technology was the ability to access VicRoads information and bring up a picture of a drivers licence."We've got new technology which will help a lot, especially with unlicensed and disqualified drivers," he said.Police say during a recent six-week trial of the technology, officers identified a number of unauthorised drivers including a suspended driver who gave the name of a friend after being pulled over without a licence."When dealing with suspected unlicensed drivers, this technology is ideal," Sergeant Gale said.Ballarat uniform and Highway Patrol have been issued two in-car terminals and two laptop data terminals.A Victoria Police spokesperson said the new terminals were a supplement to current operational communications devices and have not replaced any other piece of equipment."The introduction of the mobile data terminal eases the radio traffic congestion and allows for event dispatching or inquiries to be made with the Victoria Police LEAP database," the spokesperson said. The spokesperson said while not every police car would have the data terminals, extensions were being made to allow more officer access to the technology.