Applause Media System to Broadcast Amber Alerts

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Gilbarco Veeder-Root will work with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children as a secondary AMBER Alert distributor by using its Applause Media System to display AMBER Alerts on the large color video screens built into its gas pumps, the company announced. The forecourt TV system will be integrated into the fuel dispenser and use the receipt printer to print photos of missing children on demand, along with other information. Drivers in the area of an AMBER Alert child abduction will be able to take the printouts 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," added Richard L. 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 (America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response Plan) program is a voluntary partnership between law-enforcement agencies, broadcasters, transportation agencies, and others, intended to publicize urgent bulletins in the case of the most serious child-abduction cases in order to bring communities together to bring abducted children home faster.

"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 AMBER Alerts function is an opt-in program available to retailers who use Applause TV with Outcast and retailers who manage their own content, the company said.