Method to use DMV web connection to process traffic tickets, appeals, and court fines

• US 20030055701A1
• Filed: 09/20/2001
• Published: 03/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dutta, Rabindranath, Spring, Eduardo N., Ravi, Kumar
• Granted Patent: US 7,668,724 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0284 Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product for processing traffic tickets is provided. In one embodiment, a department of motor vehicle (DMV) server receives, from a portable law enforcement data processing system via a network, citation data and stores the citation data. The DMV server then determines and notifies a court of jurisdiction of the citation data and receives, via the network, instructions from a client representing an accused about how the accused would like to proceed with the case. Based on the instructions received on behalf of the client, the DMV server modifies the citation data.

Claims

1. A method for processing traffic citations, the method comprising:

receiving, from a portable law enforcement data processing system via a network, citation data;

storing the citation data;

determining and notifying a court of jurisdiction of the citation data;

receiving, via the network, accused instructions from a client representing an accused; and

modifying the citation data based on the accused instructions.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

redirecting the client to an appropriate server of the applicable court of jurisdiction.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, via the network, court instructions; and

modifying the citation data based on the court instructions.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein receiving the instructions from the client comprises:

providing the client with a plurality of options; and

receiving a selection from the plurality of options.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the options include at least one of paying a fine associated with the citation, setting a court appearance date, and appealing a decision of the court.

6. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the court instructions include at least one of dismissal of the citation, conviction, assessing a fine, setting a new court appearance date, and issuing an arrest warrant.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the network is the Internet.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the accused instructions are transmitted by an authorized representative and wherein the accused instructions include a security feature granting authority to the authorized representative.

9. A computer program product for processing traffic tickets, the computer program product comprising:

first receiving instructions for receiving, from a portable law enforcement data processing system via a network, citation data;

storing instructions for storing the citation data;

notification instructions for determining and notifying a court of jurisdiction of the citation data;

second receiving instructions for receiving, via the network, accused instructions from a client representing an accused; and

modifying instructions for modifying the citation data based on the accused instructions.

10. The computer program product as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

redirecting instructions for redirecting the client to an appropriate server of the applicable court of jurisdiction.

11. The computer program product as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

third receiving instructions for receiving, via the network, court instructions; and

court modifying instructions for modifying the citation data based on the court instructions.

12. The computer program product as recited in claim 9, wherein receiving the instructions from the client comprises:

options instructions for providing the client with a plurality of options; and

third receiving instructions for receiving a selection from the plurality of options.

13. The computer program product as recited in claim 9, wherein the options include at least one of paying a fine associated with the citation, setting a court appearance date, and appealing a decision of the court.

14. The computer program product as recited in claim 11, wherein the court instructions include at least one of dismissal of the citation, conviction, assessing a fine, setting a new court appearance date, and issuing an arrest warrant.

15. The computer program product as recited in claim 9, wherein the network is the Internet.

16. The computer program product as recited in claim 9, wherein the accused instructions are transmitted by an authorized representative and wherein the accused instructions include a security feature granting authority to the authorized representative.

17. A system for processing traffic tickets, the system comprising:

a first receiver which receives, from a portable law enforcement data processing system via a network, citation data;

a storage device which stores the citation data;

a notification unit which determines and notifies a court of jurisdiction of the citation data;

a second receiver which receives, via the network, accused instructions from a client representing an accused; and

a modification unit which modifies the citation data based on the accused instructions.

18. The system as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

a redirection unit which redirects the client to an appropriate server of the applicable court of jurisdiction.

19. The system as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

a third receiver which receives, via the network, court instructions; and

wherein the modification unit modifies the citation data based on the court instructions.

20. The system as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

an options unit which provides the client with a plurality of options; and

wherein the first receiver receives a selection from the plurality of options.

21. The system as recited in claim 20, wherein the options include at least one of paying a fine associated with the citation, setting a court appearance date, and appealing a decision of the court.

22. The system as recited in claim 19, wherein the court instructions include at least one of dismissal of the citation, conviction, assessing a fine, setting a new court appearance date, and issuing an arrest warrant.

23. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the network is the Internet.

24. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the accused instructions are transmitted by an authorized representative and wherein the accused instructions include a security feature granting authority to the authorized representative.

25. An electronic court server, comprising:

means, communicatively connected to an electronic department of motor vehicle server, for automatically receiving electronic motor vehicle citations electronically issued to a user in the jurisdiction of the court; and

means for communicating with the user for establishing a court date with respect to the citation.

26. The electronic court server as recited in claim 25, further comprising:

means for electronically receiving a user plea with respect to the allegation contained in the citation.

27. The electronic court server as recited in claim 25,

means for electronically updating a driving record database based on the disposition of the citation.

28. A method for processing traffic citations, the method comprising:

automatically receiving electronic motor vehicle citations electronically issued to a user in the jurisdiction of the court; and

communicating with the user to establish a court date with respect to the citation.

29. The method as recited in claim 28, further comprising:

electronically receiving a user plea with respect to the allegation contained in the citation.

30. The method as recited in claim 28,

electronically updating a driving record database based on the disposition of the citation.

31. A computer program product for processing traffic citations, the computer program product comprising:

receiving instructions for automatically receiving electronic motor vehicle citations electronically issued to a user in the jurisdiction of the court; and

communicating instructions for communicating with the user to establish a court date with respect to the citation.

32. The computer program product as recited in claim 31, further comprising:

plea instructions for electronically receiving a user plea with respect to the allegation contained in the citation.

33. The computer program product as recited in claim 31,

updating instructions for electronically updating a driving record database based on the disposition of the citation.

34. A method for processing traffic citations, the method comprising:

receiving an electronic citation;

communicating with a motor vehicle server;

receiving redirection information to an appropriate court server for a court of jurisdiction; and

communicating with a court server to provide administrative details.

35. The method as recited in claim 34, wherein communicating with the court server comprises:

receiving selection options related to at least one of setting a court date, pleas, and appeals; and

sending a selection to the court server.

36. A computer program product for processing traffic citations, the computer program product comprising:

citation instructions for receiving an electronic citation;

first communicating instructions for communicating with a motor vehicle server;

redirection instructions for receiving redirection information to an appropriate court server for a court of jurisdiction; and

second communicating instructions for communicating with a court server to provide administrative details.

37. The computer program product as recited in claim 36, wherein communicating with the court server comprises:

option receiving instructions for receiving selection options related to at least one of setting a court date, pleas, and appeals; and

option sending instructions for sending a selection to the court server.

38. A system for processing traffic citations, the system comprising:

means for receiving an electronic citation;

means for communicating with a motor vehicle server;

means for receiving redirection information to an appropriate court server for a court of jurisdiction; and

means for communicating with a court server to provide administrative details.

39. The system as recited in claim 38, wherein the means for communicating with the court server comprises:

means for receiving selection options related to at least one of setting a court date, pleas, and appeals; and

means for sending a selection to the court server.