6/5/14 - A bill sponsored by a local legislator has cleared the Michigan House of Representatives and aims to streamline the process by which police get warrants approved. Currently, to get a warrant approved, police officers have to complete all of the necessary reports, physically take them to the prosecutorâs office for approval, then drive to the court house and wait for a judge in order to give a two-minute presentation showing probable cause. The new bill, sponsored by Genoa Township Republican State Representative Bill Rogers, would allow police to use video conferencing equipment to get clearance from the prosecutor and judge electronically. This same technology is already in use in many courtrooms to let judges arraign inmates by video. Rogers says the process of physically getting warrants approved is time-consuming, costly, and unnecessary now that better technology is available. He says the old-fashioned method is an especially heavy burden on smaller police departments, which often cannot spare an officer for hours at a time and may have to wait weeks before the opportunity arises to get warrants approved. The bill passed the house with only one ânayâ vote. It has now been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. (TD)
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