Smile! You may be on camera

In court, a picture is worth a thousand words -- at least that's what Carson City Sheriff's Department officials are banking on when they install video cameras in patrol cruisers in the next 90 days.

Three or four cameras will be purchased to record voice and video during traffic stops. The Nevada Office of Traffic Safety is supplying $20,000 for cameras and taping equipment, said Sgt. Wade Penegor.

The idea is not new to the department. About eight to 10 years ago, the department installed video units on dashboards, but had a little trouble with the oversized camera units and the technology.

"They wound up melting on the dash," Penegor said.

The new technology allows the smaller cameras to be installed off the ceiling of the patrol cars. Most of the taping and other equipment will be located in the trunk and controlled with heat and cooling systems.

Besides staff time required to install the cameras, the city will not have to help pay for the video camera program. The state released funding for the program this month, and city supervisors gave the thumbs up last week to move forward with purchasing the video equipment.

With the ability to videotape traffic stops, the department is hoping to reduce the amount of court overtime paid to officers, enhance prosecution, protect the city from unwarranted lawsuits and develop a library of videos for internal and external training.

"It not only shows what violators are doing and what officers are doing, it shows what the officers are doing right," Penegor said.

The department also will be purchasing 37 more palm-held units for issuing traffic tickets using $45,000 in grant funding released by the state traffic safety office this month.

Carson City supervisors approved the acceptance of a $10,000 pilot program to purchase the hardware and begin the project in December.

The $45,000 in additional monies from the Office of Traffic Safety will allow the department to buy enough hardware and supplies to fit all 42 patrol deputies with the hand-held devices for writing tickets in the field.

By using the new devices, the department will be able to supply the Nevada Citation and Accident Tracking System which compiles a statewide data base for traffic-safety information.