System for assisting with vehicle traffic stops

Abstract

A system for assisting with vehicle traffic stops wherein a first vehicle stops a second vehicle is provided. The system includes a control system structured to be operative from within the first vehicle and an arm assembly structured to be coupled to the first vehicle. The arm assembly includes a telescoping arm member, a drive system, and a remote assembly coupled to a distal end of the arm member. The remote assembly includes a number of electronic devices for (i) collecting information at or from a location adjacent the remote assembly and providing the information to the control system and (ii) enabling two-way communication between the first vehicle and the location, wherein the arm member is structured to be selectively elongated and retracted by the drive system under control of the control system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A system comprising:
 a control system structured to be operative from a first vehicle; and   an arm assembly structured to be coupled to the first vehicle, the arm assembly including:   a telescoping arm member;   a drive system; and   a remote assembly coupled to a distal end of the arm member, the remote assembly including a number of electronic devices.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the number of electronic devices are for collecting information at or from a location adjacent the remote assembly and providing the information to the control system 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the number of electronic devices are further for enabling two-way communication between the first vehicle and the location. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the number of electronic devices are for enabling two-way communication between the first vehicle and the location. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the arm member is structured to be selectively elongated and retracted by the drive system under control of the control system. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the arm member is structured to be coupled to a front portion of the first vehicle in a condition wherein the arm member is in a retracted state and is parallel to a front bumper of the first vehicle, and wherein the control system is structured to cause the drive system to pivot the arm member away from the front bumper and then cause the arm member to move to an elongated state. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the drive system is a pneumatic drive system. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the arm assembly further includes a wheel assembly provided at the distal end of the arm member. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the number of electronic devices includes a first microphone for capturing first audio signals and a first video camera for capturing first video signals, the first audio signals and the first video signals being at least part of the information provided to the control system, and wherein the control system includes a second microphone for capturing second audio signals from within the vehicle and a second video camera for capturing second video signals from within the first vehicle, wherein the system is structured to communicate the second audio signals and the second video signals to the remote assembly. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the control system includes a first speaker for transmitting first audio based on the first audio signals and a first display for transmitting first video based on the first video signals, and wherein the remote assembly includes a second speaker for transmitting second audio based on the second audio signals and a second display for transmitting second video based on the second video signals. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the number of electronic devices includes an image capture device for capturing electronic images to be communicated to the control system. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the number of electronic devices includes a number of bar code readers for capturing bar code information to be communicated to the control system. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the number of electronic devices includes a magnetic stripe reader for capturing magnetic stripe information to be communicated to the control system. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the number of electronic devices includes a thermal imaging device for capturing thermal image information to be communicated to the control system. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the number of electronic devices includes a breath analysis device for capturing breath analysis information to be communicated to the control system. 
     
     
         42 . A method of conducting a vehicle traffic stop wherein a first vehicle stops a second vehicle, comprising:
 pulling the first vehicle adjacent the second vehicle, the first vehicle having an arm member coupled thereto and having a remote assembly coupled to a distal end of the arm member;   elongating the arm member in a manner that positions the remote assembly adjacent a driver's side window of the second vehicle;   collecting information at or from a location adjacent the remote assembly and providing the information to the first vehicle; and   conducting two-way communications between the first vehicle and second vehicle using the remote assembly.   
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 42 , wherein the arm member is coupled to a portion of the first vehicle in a condition wherein the arm member is in a retracted state and is parallel to a bumper of the first vehicle, and wherein the method includes pivoting the arm member away from the bumper prior to elongating the arm member. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the collecting information comprises capturing information from a driver's license and a vehicle registration using one or more electronic devices forming a part of the remote assembly. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the one or more electronic devices comprise at least one of an image capture device, a barcode reader, and a magnetic stripe reader. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the two-way communications comprise two-way audio and two-way video.