NC background checks made easier

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - North Carolina police performing criminal record checks on suspects can now find out easier whether they are on probation or trying to commit identity theft.

Attorney General Roy Cooper announced Monday officers can now get additional data through the State Bureau of Investigation's criminal information network.

Officers previously had been able to find out whether someone stopped was wanted or had a criminal history. Probation and parole information wasn't immediately available.

Now police performing driver's license checks will get probation and parole records immediately and the driver's license photo. Cooper said the photo will help police determine if a person is using a fictitious name.

Cooper said a pilot program received 10,000 inquiries a week for the additional records since June.