Justice and Public Safety

Despite a healthy level of interest and bills introduced in 16 states that would regulate automated license plate readers, just three states have succeeded in enacting such laws. Others are still in the works.

Mooresville, N.C., spent roughly $300,000 on drones for its police department earlier this year, purchasing two First Responder DFR drone systems from the Texas-based company, Flock Safety.

The county has forged a seven-year pact with BurnBot to use its tech to reduce the danger of wildfires. Its tools chew up fuel sources, then burn them and extinguish the blaze, leaving a fire line behind.

The state will distribute 1,000 dashcams to drivers, to aid in identifying pavement in need of repair and to document reckless driving. Participants could potentially also upload footage to their social media accounts.

The University of Colorado Boulder launched a free mobile app for students, faculty and staff that can send emergency alerts and connect with local dispatch, mental health assistance and campus reporting services.

A decade after Ohio voters forbade the devices, City Council members are weighing whether they should stage a return, as a tool to combat reckless driving. State and local hurdles remain, including at the ballot box.

Lessons in digital literacy and citizenship, along with positive teacher-student relationships, may help schools combat the negative impact of online influencers on boys who struggle with loneliness or low self-esteem.

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada is deploying more AI-powered gun detection technology at its transit centers, following the addition of more armed officers and a panic button pilot project.

The state will partner with SkyfireAI and CAL Analytics on a two-year pilot program to develop policies and training around the use of drones by first responders, and to assess how they can improve situational awareness.

The company, which sells records management and other tools for law enforcement, is offering proactive monitoring and other types of cyber defenses. Concerns about attacks on local agencies are growing.

As artificial intelligence is increasingly used to answer 911 calls nationwide, which officials report is improving operations, people say they want more disclosure about when the AI is used.

Ten years after unveiling a prototype, a key public-private research effort is taking a major leap toward getting advanced alcohol detection technology into the hands of the country's top auto manufacturers.

Lawmakers and police departments are scrambling to address the problem, but there is a widespread lack of understanding about how e-bikes have evolved since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The companies Skydio and Levatas are providing tech for staff at the Red Rock Correctional Center, where AI-enhanced drones will soon look for contraband and other things not allowed in the prison yard.

The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office will be home to the first autonomous police vehicle in the country thanks to a cruiser named PUG, or police unmanned ground.

The communications giant has rolled out a priority 5G slice, a 50 percent bigger drone fleet, satellite texting and more deployables aimed at keeping first responders connected throughout emergencies.

As public safety staffing shortages persist, Truleo is betting that a new AI tool focused on police chiefs and staff can help reduce law enforcement workflow burdens — and prevent the need to hire full-time assistants.

Almost a year after buying a drone company, the seller of license plate readers and public safety tech wants to sell drones to retailers, hospitals and other operations. It’s not the first company to make such a move.