City council OK's electronic citations

A new ticket system for the Douglas Police Department was approved at the City Council meeting held on Feb. 13 at City Hall.

The DPD plans to implement JusticeEZtrac by the end of March.

JusticeEZtrac is web-based automated service center that will allow DPD to write a citation and be automatically downloaded to the court.

Officers will utilize the e-ticket hardware to issue warnings, traffic citations, and criminal/non-criminal citations during the course of their daily duties.

The citation is automatically uploaded to the Douglas Justice Court Precinct or the Douglas Municipal Court as well as the DPD record management system through the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office via wireless internet.

The person receiving the citation will have the option of paying the fine on-line, using a credit or debit card to pay ticket in full or they can request the court to grant them a payment plan.

The system also permits court clients to plead not guilty on a case and to request traffic school.

JusticeEZtrac will provide an automated e-ticket service and will provide all hardware, software, installation, and training free of charge to the DPD and the City of Douglas Municipal Court.

The system is at no cost to the city, Chief Technology Officer, Chris Crucilla said.

The system has the potential to streamline the entire processing aspect of the local justice system from citation through payment.

This new innovative electronic process will provide convenience and customer access. The customer will be able to engage this electronic service through the interactive use of a kiosk to be set up at a centralized city owned facility.

Officers will be provided a tablet and portable printer to give out citations.

Other items on the agenda approved the discussion/decision on approval of the third reading of the authorizing the sale of approximately 3.2932 acres (14,452 square feet) of real property located on the west side of Pan American to Copper Queen Medical Associates in the amount of $358,630.

The second reading to accept the donation of real property, the YMCA building, was approved.

Mayor and Council approved to extent the intergovernmental agreement between the city and the Arizona Department of Corrections. The IGA will be extended for 12 months effective July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2014, to provide inmate labor for city projects.

Council approved the resolution to declare Agua Prieta, Sonora and Douglas, Arizona to be “Sister Cities” and directing Mayor Danny Ortega Jr., to execute a formal sisterhood agreement.

An intergovernmental agreement between the City of Douglas and the Sunnyside Fire Department for fleet maintenance and repair services was also approved.

The lease agreement between the city and the Industrial Development Authority of the City of Douglas for the First Street Parking lot was approved by the mayor and council.

The next City Council meeting will be held on March 14 at City Hall on 6 p.m.