FRANKLIN — Despite the calendar turning to 2021, face masks and social distancing are still required for more people to get their job done.
Every workplace has its own practices, and WRTV's Rafael Sanchez found one using a paging system to tackle COVID-19 concerns.
Mark Loyd is the City Court Judge in Franklin. Zoom hearings are commonplace, but the buzz outside his courtroom is the new paging system.
Every lawyer and person with a court date gets a pager. It's similar to what people get while waiting for their table at their favorite place to eat.
"We have an obligation not only to my staff and their safety but public safety. Courts across the state of Indiana have been struggling with that issue," Judge Loyd said.
So, people waiting in their vehicles then come-in to challenge their case, or pay their fee without fear of crowded hallways, or a packed courtroom in this age that demands social-distancing.
While those behind bars continue to Zoom in, others wait to be paged — letting the lights be their guide.
The paging system costs about $600. The judge expects to use it at least through the spring. Of course, Judge Loyd believes zoom hearings are to stay.
