elock™ To Safeguard Traffic Systems

Phoenix, Arizona — January 3, 2005 — Emergency response crews will soon benefit from a device that eliminates unauthorized "preemption" at traffic intersections around the globe.

elock™, the brainchild of Scott Sikora, President of Gilbert, Arizona-based TOMAR Electronics, was created to safeguard the integrity of intersections outfitted with special detectors which allow approaching responders to preempt or change traffic lights from red to green.

The new system, which includes a small, vehicle-mounted black box and an intersection unit at each traffic cabinet, relies on radio signals and a sophisticated set of algorithms to authenticate emitters. To enhance security, elock’s user-programmable passwords and challenge codes are irretrievable and the authentication information sent from the vehicle to the intersection never repeats. Thus, without the proper authentication signal, all unauthorized drivers -- even those with coded emitters -- will be ignored. Also, elock™ retrofits to all previously manufactured preemption systems.

For over a decade, fire-rescue teams in more than 300 cities and towns have relied on infrared signal emitters to preempt or accelerate normal light-change patterns at selected traffic lights. TOMAR has controlled access to its Strobecom® system by offering features like coding and logging. The company has also narrowed its sales pipeline; by selling only to municipalities through a relatively small number of traffic product distributors.

Despite past attempts to control preemption, the sale of Internet-marketed knockoffs to the general public has been on the rise. That worries traffic engineers who fear that inconsiderate members of the general public will unnecessarily interrupt normal traffic flow. Police also fret the possibility of motorists “dueling” with emitters to gain priority access to traffic lights. Fortunately, TOMAR's little black box may soon eliminate those concerns.

TOMAR filed for patent protection on Dec. 23rd and expects the new product to hit the streets as early as February 2005. Pilot installations of elock™ are being considered in several locations.

For additional information, please contact:
Scott Sikora, President and CEO
TOMAR Electronics, Inc.
(800) 338-3133 phone
scotts@tomar.com

Rex Stout, Sales and Marketing Director
TOMAR Electronics, Inc.
(800) 338-3133 phone
rexs@tomar.com