Virginia lottery displays could help state police locate missing or endangered children under a partnership announced Wednesday by Gov. Bob McDonnell.
Under the plan, in-store electronic display systems that usually flash jackpot amounts or marketing messages will display the an Amber Alert for missing or endangered children whenever the state police issue one. The display will also instruct the public to go to www.vaambeeralert.com for more details.
“When the Virginia State Police issues an Amber Alert, every second counts and the message needs to be spread quickly,” said McDonnell.
The lottery has more than 5,000 clerk-operated terminals and about 700 Lottery Express self-service vending machines at retailers throughout the state.
The Amber Alert Program, established by the General Assembly in 2002, has been used to issue 29 alerts for missing and endangered child cases.
