Cop Computers

[Tachyon]

Does anybody know about the current cop computer (squad car) specs? Are all records for the city stored in each unit or do they signal for it by radio?

[M-26-7]

Does anybody know about the current cop computer (squad car) specs? Are all records for the city stored in each unit or do they signal for it by radio?

Do you want to know the actual laptop specs? I know the cops in my town use shitty 4 year old dell laptops. As for the records, the State police probably have all the state license plate records and stuff like that, but I'm assuming just about all cop cars have to radio out for them. The exception might be NYPD, they seem to be more like a paramilitary group to me; they probably have better digital equipment.

[Raptor]

It depends on town/county.

Ours use Dell Latitude C610, or on the newer ones Dell Latitude D410

I'm pretty sure most have CCTV cameras mounted in the front windshield,

Most radios operate on GSM (for secutiry) however I have seen some with older VHF units that I assume are still in que to be replaced.

[Tachyon]

Oh they're just laptops, not a custom integrated unit? Probably just XP or something stupid like that running on them then.

[gangals]

Just a note, more and more ambulances and some fire trucks and squad cards are being equipped with a non-broadcasting ad-hoc wifi network most likely set on channel two.

[M-26-7]

On a side note, how easy is to get someone's info from a license plate number? I'm reading No COuntry for Old Men and then main character gets worried because he knows that the drug dealers can call his license plate number into the court house and get all his docs. Is this even remotely possible?

[rbcp]

It depends on the state.  Some states consider license plates public record.  I know with Texas you used to be able to order the entire TX database on a CD-ROM.  I think Oregon did that for awhile too.  There are websites that do license plate searches, but you'll notice that some states are not available.  Like this one: http://www.tracing-america.com/motor.html $50 for a search but quite a few states are missing.

[Tachyon]

If I was ever on the run, I'd make fake license plate jpgs for local vehicles the same make as mine. Then I'd have them made into stick on magnet sheets and I'd put them over my own plate when the heat is on.

[ChrisT]

Usually cops use crap motorola MDT's that break down a lot or panasonic toughbooks. Most small towns use UHF links but bigger cities usually have a data contract with a local cell phoine company. Local results like checking the hotsheet come back right away but an NCIC query takes a couple minutes.

[Tachyon]

Thanks guys does anybody know a good web site for stuff like this?