Robocop is Here, and He's a Car

You might think that police work would be one of the few jobs that's in no danger of being automated. Think again. Just last month, a patent was granted to Motorola Solutions Inc for an automated arrest and booking system, called the Mobile law enforcement communication system and method. It is basically a self-driving car with all kinds of communication loaded into it. The vehicle serves as transportation and detention center in one. A cop arrests a suspect, puts him in the car, and from there he can be tested for intoxication, scanned for weapons, informed of his rights, and booked. From the vehicle, he can consult with a lawyer and appear before a judge, all by video. He can then be taken home, to jail, or somewhere else, but he'll have to arrange for bail or fine payment electronically before leaving the vehicle. All this with no human coming close to the suspect. The patent filing has a lot more information and pictures. Oh, what a brave new world! -via Boing Boing