Jalisco’s traffic cops will be monitored with cameras and microphones as they interact with the public in a bid to reduce corruption.
Sometime next year, cameras will be fitted on around 500 patrol cars and 300 motorcycles allowing real-time monitoring of officials at work.
In addition, microphones will be attached to the uniforms of the officers allowing conversations to be listened in to.
“We want to know how traffic officials manage the public,” said Francisco Javier Poe Morales, general commissioner of the Policía Vial (Traffic Police). “This equipment has been introduced in other countries and has reduced corruption significantly.”
Cameras will be fitted to rear-view mirrors on patrol cars and wing mirrors on motorcycles.
Jalisco will be the first state in Mexico to introduce this kind of surveillance technology.
Each of the devices is estimated to cost around 4,000 dollars, requiring a total of 3.2 million dollars.
Poe revealed this week revealed that 160 traffic cops have been fired so far this year following investigations over alleged corruption, or after failing anti-doping tests. Another 300 officers are under investigation and likely to be let go, Poe said.
Jalisco employs 2,200 traffic police officers.