First system to print photos on demand at the gas pump.
Information about abducted children can now be distributed through the gas pump.
In support of the U.S. Department of Justice’s AMBER Alert program, Gilbarco Veeder-Root is working with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) as a secondary AMBER Alert distributor to place AMBER Alerts on the large color video screens built into its gas pumps as part of its Applause Media System.
This makes Applause TV the first forecourt TV system of its kind to be integrated into the fuel dispenser and use the fuel dispenser’s receipt printer to offer on-demand photos of missing children. Drivers who are traveling within the area of achild abduction can print the photos and information to take with them.
“By reaching more people with information about an abducted child, we can greatly increase the chances that we can help bring that child home safely,” said Ernie Allen, president and CEO of NCMEC. “Through Gilbarco’s support, we can mobilize many more people to join us in this effort to save lives and reunite families.”
“We look forward to working with Gilbarco in development of the Applause system to include real time Amber Alert data at the gas pump in our new facilities,” said Richard Wheeler, president, Florida Turnpike Services LLC. “We hope that providing this information to the Florida Turnpike customers will result in the safe return of many loved ones to their families.”
The AMBER Alert program, also known as America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response Plan, was created in 1996 and is named for 9-year-old Amber Hagerman who was abducted and murdered in Arlington, Texas. The program is a voluntary partnership between law-enforcement agencies, broadcasters, transportation agencies, and others to activate an urgent bulletin in the most serious child-abduction cases. The goal is to instantly galvanize the entire community to assist in the search for and safe recovery of the child. Since the program began AMBER Alerts have been credited with the safe recovery of 538 children nationwide.
“Our customers are always looking for innovations to serve their communities in meaningful ways,” said Mark Williams, marketing manager, fuel dispenser applications at Gilbarco Veeder-Root. “Serving their communities with these alerts is yet another way retailers can use the Applause Media System to build customer loyalty and drive site traffic.”
The Alerts function is an opt-in program available both to retailers who manage their own content and to those who use Applause TV with Outcast.