BEAUMONT, Texas — The Beaumont Police Department is taking traffic warrant enforcement to the next level by using a new QR code payment system.
Now when a driver is pulled over they can settle their fines instantly with the new QR system, making the process quicker and more efficient.
The Real Time Crime Center is connected to license plate readers around the city, so now when drivers with traffic warrants are pulled over they have two options. Use the the QR code to pay or go to jail.
"Essentially we're able to use that real time crime center technology to streamline police work," said BPD public information officer Haley Morrow.
Officer Morrow says warrant roundups are nothing new, but the technology helping officers settle outstanding warrants is.
"Now with our new real time crime center we have a lot more license plate readers available to us. Now we have stationary license plate readers as well as license plate readers that are attached to every single Beaumont police car," said Morrow.
Morrow says that these license plate readers alert officers to drivers with outstanding traffic warrants. If someone is pulled over the officer will show them a special QR code to take care it
"In our most recent warrant roundup we were able to develop a QR code so that people could pay their traffic citation right there on the side of the road," said Morrow.
During the most recent roundup in April, BPD officers served 50 warrants.
The city also collected just over $45 thousand, and only seven people were unable to pay which resulted in them going to jail.
"Once that warrant is issued it's kind of one of those situation where you do have to pay that fine or you go to jail," said Morrow.
Brit Featherson with Jefferson County's District Attorney Office says this is helping ease the burden on tax payers.
"Without having to take these individuals into custody, we don't have to house them and feed them. We really want our jails, our detention facilities to be used for the worst of the worst," said Featherson.
Morrow says BPD will continue to use license plate readers and the QR codes to settle warrants, and the city will also offer payment plans for those who need it.