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Roseville Police Using Mobile Fingerprinting Tech

ROSEVILLE, Calif. (CBS13) -- A new tool can reveal a person's identity to police in seconds, giving authorities a chance to see the personal history of a subject

The Roseville Police Department began carrying mobile fingerprint devices a few months ago. Officers can scan a suspect's fingerprint using the tiny pad on the device, giving investigators an identity to work with far sooner than was previously possible.

"In the past, you're not given a chance to run a fingerprint until he gets to the jail, there's a whole process," said Roseville Police Officer Dave Alfonso.

Subjects who give false names to police can be quickly confronted, and "you'll see the sweat pouring from their brow," Ofc. Alfonso added. Lying to law enforcement about an identity can be grounds for charges of obstructing justice.

The devices also allow authorities to check personal information and criminal history using a swipe of a driver's license.

The technology has also proven useful in identifying wanted parolees and has even helped identify a pedestrian who was recently killed in a hit and run.

"We couldn't do that before," Ofc. Alfonso said.

Only the traffic unit at the Roseville Police Department is equipped with the devices, but officials say they hope to roll out the technology to the entire force.

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