ML - Ticket Writer Overview

Denville, NJ 07834

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PalmTech 2000®

Advanced Citation Issuance

Palm Top Computers

Parking Enforcement

Hand held computers have proven to be extremely beneficial for the issuance of parking citations. In many cases the return on investment has been realized in a relatively short time period. Until now however, it is perceived that the basic characteristics and cost have not changed dramatically over the past 10 to 15 years.

NetTech’s commitment to our clients is to provide advanced products and software within the most current technology curve wherever possible. In keeping with this principle, NetTech provides citation issuance functionality with one of the newest innovations in lightweight mobile computing – NetTech’s new PalmTech 2000®.

NetTech’s PalmTech 2000® is slim, lightweight, and compact – weighing only 4 ounces. The PalmTech 2000® unit can actually fit in your shirt pocket.

The PalmTech unit has an indicator to inform the officer of the available power reserve. The rechargeable Lithium ion battery provides long term usage between recharges - the PalmTech units can go days without a recharge.

With the Hot-Sync® Docking/Charging unit, the unload process is extremely fast – about ½ second per citation.

PalmTech 2000® is combined with a rugged, lightweight printer, generating a 3 by 6-inch thermal paper citation utilizing wireless communication – no awkward cables.

The PalmTech 2000® units consist of: Symbol Palmtop computer

· Palm OS® or Pocket PC software

· 1D or 2D integrated scanner available

· 8 MB On-board Flash (Non Volatile) Memory - Cannot lose data

· 4 inch LCD Passive Matrix Display, easier to see at all angles, for dim light and bright sunlight

· Touch/Stylus Entry/Display Screen with “drop down” lists for quick and easy selection

· Rechargeable Lithium icon battery automatically recharges in Hot-sync® cradle for up to a month’s operation

· One touch upload/download synchronization

· 3 1/8 inches wide X 4 ½ Long and less than ½ inch in thickness

· 4 oz. total weight (including battery)

· Wireless printing (Zebra QL320)

· The PalmTech 2000® printer unit is equipped with:

· Rugged case built for field usage withstanding repeated 8 ft. drops (to concrete)

· Rechargeable NiMH battery providing over 8 hours of printing per charge

· Wireless printing (no cables)

· Clamshell design for “drop in” paper changes

· Belt-clip configuration – maximum portability

· Generates standard 3” X 6” thermal citation

· Lightweight and compact – dimensions

Functional Characteristics

PalmTech 2000® was designed with the end user in mind. The unit combines casual portability with the natural interaction of handwriting, tapping and graphics, eliminating the awkwardness of a keyboard and function keys.

PalmTech 2000® provides the ability to maintain a high level of citation issuance, increase accuracy, decrease errors, and reduce overall costs. The PalmTech 2000® provides the capability to edit citation data at the citation issuance level, eliminate manual data entry, and electronically update the database with citation data quickly and efficiently. Reduction in errors results in a decrease of violator appeals/disputes and administrative time.

The PalmTech units are equipped with digitized handwriting capture. During the log-on procedure, the officers can write their name (signature), initials, or a daily message (or bulletin) in the digitized display. All subsequent citations that are generated will print the digitized handwritten information until the officer logs off.

After the officer has logged on (I.D. and password), the software displays several optional routines which the officer can select to perform – with the touch of a stylus, or finger. These routines are:

· Citation Issuance

· Search Mode – Search for scofflaws, stolen vehicles, and/or permits

· Electronic Chalking - (software will notify officer if vehicle has been previously chalked)

· Logout

· Data Transfer – unload citations

In the citation generation process, the software uses a common set of fully functional data input screens with prompts (prompting the officer for information) with an associated box for the data to be entered - selected mostly from a pre-stored “drop-down” list/ table.

Criteria for pre-stored lists and required fields are coordinated and approved through agency personnel.

All pre-stored lists/tables are easily accessed and displayed via drop-down windows with scrolling capabilities, WITHOUT the need to use function keys. Since the PalmTech units have touch screen capability - all items on pre-stored lists/tables are easily

selectable with the touch of a stylus, or finger.

Examples of lists/tables pre-stored in the PalmTech units are:

· Location of violations – streets and block numbers, lot numbers/names

· Violation/Statute Information – code number, description, fine amount

· Vehicle information - makes, models, types, class, color, VIN, etc

· States – state codes

· Officer comments/notes

Additionally, the PalmTech 2000® units are downloaded (from host PC) with the following pre-stored enforcement, or hot-sheet lists:

· Scofflaw license plates

· Stolen vehicles license plates

· Permit numbers

The downloading of the various lists/tables to the PalmTech units from the host PC are usually conducted on a daily basis.

During the normal routine of citation generation, the PalmTech software automatically searches the pre-stored hot-sheet lists whenever a license plate or permit number is entered in the appropriate field (transparent to the user). The hot-sheet search can also be conducted on demand, in “search” mode. The unit will automatically check all pre-stored enforcement lists for a data match and displays matched items for the officer to view and take action.

The software also provides the capability for electronic time limit chalking (electronic marking, recording) to manage time limit violations.

The PalmTech units are equipped with a real time clock and automatically generate/print the following:

· Date and time of citation issuance

· Next sequential citation number with duplicate citation prevention

· Badge/ID# of issuing PCO

· Digitized signature (or initials) of PCO, or handwritten messages

The units have the capability of capturing/printing the following:

· Violation location

· License plate number, expiration date, VIN

· Vehicle, make, body style, color, class code, 2-Digit state code

· Statue/violation code number, description, fine amount,

· Officer comments/notes

The software can retain information from the previous citation and populate the appropriate fields in the subsequent citation reducing repetitive entry (location, violation information, state code, etc). Citations are not printed until all required fields are entered.

The software can also re-print a citation (copy) as well as cancel a citation.

The combination of pre-edited drop down lists and the touch screen, the officer can quickly view and select the appropriate data, increasing the speed and accuracy of citation data capture.

Hot-Sync® Docking/Charging Cradle

This unit is connected to the Host PC and used to charge the PalmTech units and unload citation data and download of new list items. Illuminated indicator when PalmTech unit is being charged.

Communication Management Software

This software resides on the Host PC and provides the ability for the following operational controls:

· Manages/maintains all lists/tables stored on the PalmTech units.

· Conducts the communications for all upload and download functions to/ from the PalmTech units and displays message upon successful upload and (system) verification

· Generates citation upload reports of data collected from the PalmTech units

· Conducts electronic file transfers to and from the database server

The software will NOT purge citations from a PalmTech unit until all citations have been uploaded and verified (by the software, and automatically conducts re-transmission of citation upload process if errors occur.

The software is designed with minimum staff interaction by providing automated “scripts” to perform most functions with single keystrokes or mouse-clicks.

ParkTech 2000®, PermitTech 2000®, PalmTech200® and MeterTech 2000®, are Registered trademarks of NetTech Solutions L.L.C. 1999. Windows 98®, Window 2000®, Windows NT®, Microsoft Access® and Microsoft SQL Server® are registered trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation 1999.