Method and system to improve traffic flow

• US 20080062009A1
• Filed: 08/30/2006
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Keith J. Marton
• Original Assignee: Keith J. Marton
• Inventors: Marton, Keith J.
• Application Number:
  US11/512,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20080062009A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/937
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0175 by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide for a system to detect and cite tailgating violations. The system may comprise a tailgating detector adapted to detect a tailgating vehicle, a recorder adapted to record identification information specific to the tailgating vehicle, an identification computer in communication a vehicle and registrant identification information database, a citation preparation computer adapted to prepare a tailgating citation, and a communication means for communicating the tailgating citation to the tailgating violator. The system may further include a payment computer adapted to determine whether proper payment has been received for the tailgating citation, a scheduling computer in communication with a court schedule database, a summons preparation computer adapted to prepare a summons, and a communication means for communicating the summons to the tailgating violator. Embodiments of the present invention also provide for a method to detect and cite tailgating violations.

Claims

1. A method to detect and cite tailgating violations using an automated system comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting a tailgating vehicle with a tailgating detector of the automated system;

(b) recording the tailgating vehicle with a recorder of the automated system;

(c) identifying a tailgating violator with an identification computer of the automated system, the identification computer adapted to be in communication with the recorder and a vehicle and registrant identification information database of the automated system;

(d) preparing a tailgating citation with a citation preparation computer of the automated system; and

(e) communicating the tailgating citation to the tailgating violator.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

(f) determining whether proper payment has been received for the tailgating citation with a payment computer of the automated system; and

, if not,

scheduling a court date with a scheduling computer of the automated system in communication with a court schedule database of the automated system;

preparing a summons with a summons preparation computer of the automated system; and

communicating the summons to the tailgating violator.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) comprises the steps of:

reading identification information specific to the tailgating vehicle with the identification computer;

accessing the vehicle and registrant identification information database with the identification computer;

comparing the identification information specific to the tailgating vehicle to vehicle and registrant identification information contained in the vehicle and registrant identification information database with the identification computer; and

identifying the tailgating violator by correlating the identification information specific to the tailgating vehicle to the registrant of the tailgating vehicle with the identification computer.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the identification information specific to the tailgating vehicle comprises a license plate number.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the court date is scheduled by:

accessing the court schedule database with the scheduling computer;

identifying an available court date with the scheduling computer; and

scheduling the court date on the available court date with the scheduling computer.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of

(g) reviewing one or more of the other steps of the method by a human user.

7. A method to detect and cite tailgating violations using an automated system comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting a tailgating vehicle with a tailgating detector of the automated system;

(b) recording the tailgating vehicle with a recorder of the automated system;

(c) reading identification information specific to the tailgating vehicle with an identification computer of the automated system;

(d) accessing a vehicle and registrant identification information database of the automated system with the identification computer;

(e) comparing the identification information specific to the tailgating vehicle to vehicle and registrant information contained in the vehicle and registrant identification information database with the identification computer;

(f) identifying a tailgating violator by correlating the identification information specific to the tailgating vehicle to the registrant of the tailgating vehicle with the identification computer;

(g) accessing a court schedule database of the automated system with a scheduling computer of the automated system in communication with the court schedule database;

(h) identifying an available court date with the scheduling computer;

(i) scheduling a court date on the available court date with the scheduling computer;

(j) preparing a summons with a summons preparation computer of the automated system;

(k) preparing a tailgating citation with a citation preparation computer of the automated system; and

(l) communicating the summons and the tailgating citation to the tailgating violator.

8. A system to detect and cite tailgating violations comprising:

a tailgating detector adapted to detect a tailgating vehicle;

a recorder in communication with the tailgating detector and adapted to record identification information specific to the tailgating vehicle;

an identification computer in communication with the recorder and a vehicle and registrant identification information database, the identification computer adapted to identify a tailgating violator by comparing the identification information specific to the tailgating vehicle to vehicle and registrant identification information contained in the vehicle and registrant identification information database;

a citation preparation computer in communication with the identification computer, the citation preparation computer adapted to prepare a tailgating citation; and

a citation communication means for communicating the tailgating citation to the tailgating violator.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a scheduling computer in communication with a court schedule database, the scheduling computer adapted to identify an available court date;

a summons preparation computer in communication with the scheduling computer, the summons preparation computer adapted to prepare a summons; and

a summons communication means for communicating the summons to the tailgating violator.

10. They system of claim 9 further comprising:

a payment computer in communication with the scheduling computer, the payment computer adapted to determine whether proper payment has been received for the tailgating citation.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the tailgating detector comprises an inductance coil.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the tailgating detector comprises a radiant beam.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the tailgating detector comprises a video camera.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the recorder comprises a digital camera.

15. The system of claim 8 wherein the recorder comprises a video camera.

16. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a review workstation adapted to facilitate review of the identity of the tailgating violator by a human user.

17. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a review workstation adapted to facilitate review of the tailgating citation by a human user.