Mobile computing terminals and law enforcement: an exploratory investigation of the Buffalo Police Department

This paper describes how, beginning in February 1998, the Buffalo Police Department (NY, USA) embarked upon a scheme to equip a majority of its patrol cars with mobile laptop computers. These computers are being used to conduct plate checks and license checks and will soon be used by the officers to file online offense reports. Officers can now make requests using their own laptop computers. The request is sent through the Department´s server to the State headquarters and the details of the vehicle are retrieved in about 20 seconds without any intervention from the control center, allowing the officers to act on their own initiative