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130 Guelph St., Georgetown 905-873-2476 Visit us at www.herbalmagic.ca/georgetown *Offer based on the purchase of a full program. Excludes products and starter kit, not valid with any other coupons, specials or promotions. Expires August 5, 2008 Outdoor Adventures Close to Home 50 Great Hiking Trails Pick Up Your Copy of Halton Hikes at 92 Main St. S. Downtown Georgetown 905-877-8443 Acton/Georgetown, Friday, July 18, 2008 11 It might be a little tougher to fight a parking ticket in Halton Hills the Town has moved to an automated parking ticket system. It includes a one-piece handheld computer with Windows applica- tions, a keypad, built-in printer and camera, and can be integrated into the Towns parking ticket databases and processors. It will spit out weatherproof, tear-proof thermal paper-plastic tickets. At the end of the day, the officer downloads all the information recorded to the Towns server. Fully integrated with the Towns ticket software and database, it enables the parking enforcement officer to identify first-time offend- ers or shows the history of the vehicle plate, such as previous warnings, tickets or unpaid tickets. A list of stolen vehicles can be inputted that will flag the parking officers attention. Dispute over time in three-hour parking zones will be eliminated as the device will now stamp the time of first entry and prompt the officer when to return. If the vehicle is still there, the timed stamp of both visits are on the ticket. This timing system will also aid the parking officer to track derelict or abandoned vehicles. The devices built-in camera can store four photos/tickets to reduce the sole reliance on the officers test imony i f the driver goes to court. The parking officer can also log graffiti, damaged or worn traffic signs, worn pavement markings, etc. onto the device, which can then be forwarded to Public Works for further action. During the 2009 budget discus- sions, the Clerks Department will present a report on additional tech- nologies that could be added to the ticket. These include real-time communication to provide instan- taneous download instead of end- of-the-day. Other features that could be added: keeping track of vehicles in the Towns paid permit spaces and a vehicle relocation fea- ture that would allow citizens to go on-line to find out where their car has been towed. Parking ticket system goes hi-tech CYNTHIA GAMBLE Staff Writer