Police Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Video: Could a Robot Make Traffic Stops Safer?

Once the officer’s vehicle is parked behind the motorist’s car, GoBetween rolls up to the driver’s side window of the motorist, where it becomes the officer’s eyes, ears and mouth. A spike strip automatically placed in front of the car’s rear wheels keeps the motorist from driving away until the traffic stop is completed.

May 10, 2019
Video: Could a Robot Make Traffic Stops Safer?

 

2 min to read


A California man has built a robot that he hopes will take some of the danger out of traffic stops.

The GoBetween robot is attached to a rod that extends forward from an officer’s car to a motorist’s window, enabling the officer and the motorist to communicate with one another without leaving their vehicles. The bot can even issue a ticket.

Ad Loading...

“I got tired of hearing news reports of cops getting shot or run over in traffic stops, usually in what seemed like preventable situations,” Reuben Brewer, a mechanical engineer at the nonprofit research organization SRI International in Menlo Park, California, and the robot’s inventor, said in an email. “I’d be absolutely thrilled for this robot to save even a single life … No one should die in a traffic stop.”

GoBetween has all the tools it needs to conduct traffic stops, including a tablet screen, webcam, signature pad and a small printer that spits out the citations. It does not carry weapons.

A video posted by SRI International shows how the proof-of-concept prototype robot works: Once the officer’s vehicle is parked behind the motorist’s car, GoBetween rolls up to the driver’s side window of the motorist, where it becomes the officer’s eyes, ears and mouth. A spike strip automatically placed in front of the car’s rear wheels keeps the motorist from driving away until the traffic stop is completed, NBC reports.

Ad Loading...

More Technology

Blue tinted background of a police dispatcher with headline Flock Safety + Coreforce Integation
TechnologyJanuary 7, 2026

Flock Safety and Coreforce Partner to Enhance Real-Time Awareness and Operational Efficiency for Law Enforcement

A new integration partnership will enable Flock Safety hotlist alerts and license plate recognition (LPR) searches directly in Coreforce’s Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) and Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS) platform.

Read More →
Thumbnail image for video series POLICE From the Show Floor featuring DroneSense by Versaterm
Technologyby Wayne ParhamDecember 18, 2025

From the Show Floor: DroneSense by Versaterm

Learn about DroneSense by Versaterm as POLICE talks with Ryan Bracken, head of product. He explains the rapid advancements in drone technology, capabilities, and software.

Read More →
thumbnail for video series POLCIE From the Show Floor, white headline for Versaterm, all set against a black background with police light bar.
Technologyby Wayne ParhamDecember 10, 2025

From the Show Floor: Versaterm

Learn more about Versaterm as POLICE visits with Rohan Galloway-Dawkins, chief product officer, to explore the company’s focus on a purpose-built platform for public safety.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Thumbnail for POLICE video From the Show Floor: Motorola Solutions
Technologyby Wayne ParhamDecember 4, 2025

From the Show Floor: Motorola Solutions

In this video, learn about the Motorola Solutions ecosystem and how it provides tools that enhance the efficiency and safety of police officers. You’ll hear about the APX NEXT radio and SVX system, Assisted Narrative, and more.

Read More →
SponsoredNovember 3, 2025

Learning How to Manage Your Fleet?

Watch this tutorial on how fleet management platforms work. You’ll see how easily you can integrate fleet telematics, dash cameras, and asset management in a single pane of glass and manage your fleet more effectively.

Read More →
thumbnail from video series From the Show Floor, headline features Semtech.
Technologyby Wayne ParhamOctober 31, 2025

From the Show Floor: Semtech

Learn about the latest ruggedized routers designed for public safety vehicles as POLICE visits with Greg Hill of Semtech. These routers are equipped with the latest 5G technology.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
patrolfinder - reducing crime thumbnail
SponsoredOctober 27, 2025

How One Police Department Cut Crime by 46% with Smarter Patrol Management

Discover how one police department cut crime nearly in half using smarter patrol data. This whitepaper breaks down the real-world strategy behind a 46% drop in vehicle thefts, improved officer safety, and stronger community visibility.

Read More →
Photo of three computer screens displaying software soluitions in a trade show booth.
TechnologyOctober 26, 2025

Genetec Showcases Its Latest Public Safety Innovations at IACP 2025

Genetec demonstrated its Cloudrunner, Citigraf, and Clearance during IACP 2025 to show how they can provide law enforcement with a unified situational awareness to make cities safer.

Read More →
Analysts reviewing geospatial data on multiple computer screens in a monitoring center
PatrolOctober 14, 2025

Ohio’s Statewide Drone First Responder Program to Take Flight

Over the next two years, the Ohio DFR Pilot Program will equip municipalities with advanced drone systems, deliver comprehensive training for first responders, and enable FAA-approved Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
White City of Tampa police SUV parked on street with palm trees
TechnologySeptember 10, 2025

Tampa Police Department Deploys More Than 950 5G Smartphones

Tampa Police Department has deployed more than 950 5G-enabled smartphones through Verizon Frontline to support its Connected Officer initiative and enhance field communications.

Read More →