Electronic Traffic Information Processing (eTRIP)


About the eTrip Initiative

NEWS FLASH On November 8th IDMS, the vendor hired to develop SECTOR was on-site at the WSP to begin installing the first version of the software. SECTOR consists of the field based data collection tool for preparing electronic tickets and collision reports, a back-office database and a web portal for data analysis and reporting. The base installation is expected to be completed by January 2006. Testing of SECTOR has begun and is being done in two phases: Alpha Phase – A few Officers from the WSP and Tacoma PD are performing initial testing of the accuracy, functionality and usability of the data collection tool using previously completed tickets and collision reports. This testing will continue through January and is being done to ensure the SECTOR client is working reasonably well and is ready for distribution to additional Officers for Beta testing in the field. Beta Phase – Once the major issues identified in the Alpha testing are resolved and the base installation is completed, additional Officers from the Pierce County and Thurston County areas will be asked to participate in Beta testing. The Beta test will involve Officers preparing actual tickets and collision reports in the field, submitting them to the back-office database and printing them out for submission to the appropriate courts and state agencies. As soon as the AOC, WSDOT and DOL data repositories are ready, Officers will then begin submitting their tickets and collision reports electronically. This is expected to occur by June 30, 2006 which will allow us to complete the Beta test phase and put SECTOR into production at that time. Over the next couple of months we will be developing a SECTOR deployment plan for the WSP and local law enforcement agencies once the testing is completed. Key factors in determining where and when SECTOR is deployed are: Which courts are willing to accept electronic tickets and when funding for the hardware will be available. Dan Belles, Project Manager SECTOR Project Team (360) 705 5378 dan.belles@wsp.wa.gov

The current traffic data collection process in Washington State involves the manual entry of a large volume of collision reports and tickets multiple times at multiple agencies. Over 140,000 collision reports and 1,000,000 tickets are entered annually with an expected future growth rate of 10% per year. These paper-based data collection systems are subject to inefficiencies, errors, time delays and excessive costs.

The Electronic Traffic Information Processing (eTRIP) initiative will develop and implement an automated system that will enable law enforcement agencies (LEA’s) to electronically create tickets, collision reports, and other forms in the field and transmit this data to authorized users. eTRIP seeks to accomplish the Washington Traffic Records Strategic Plan by replacing paper-based collection processes and exchanges to improve statewide traffic data.

The eTRIP initiative has been divided into separate projects that will be completed over several phases. Together, these projects will carry out the following three (3) objectives:

• Support efforts to provide law enforcement officers methods to electronically capture ticket data, collision report data and other data in the field
• Develop a statewide data exchange infrastructure to allow this data to be transmitted electronically to users
• Prepare agency systems and repositories to receive electronic traffic data

One of the first projects within eTRIP is to develop and deploy the Statewide Electronic Collision and Ticket Online Records (SECTOR) to an initial group of officers and provide it to LEA’s who wish to submit tickets and collision reports electronically. The goals of the SECTOR project are to:

• Enable officers to electronically capture data once at the point of origin and transfer it to authorized users
• Improve data accuracy and consistency
• Improve efficiencies and reduce costs
• Provide an electronic audit/security process
• Provide local access to traffic data for query and analysis

LEA’s are not required to use the state’s SECTOR software. They can:

• Continue to use paper tickets and collision reports
• Use the SECTOR provided by the state at no charge
• Purchase another data collection software product or use their existing software. LEA’s who choose this option must use the business edits and standards published by the state to transmit data electronically. Otherwise, they will have to print a paper ticket or collision report and mail it in.