INDIANAPOLIS -- A new online tracking tool is aimed at helping police connect the dots between the sale of cold medicine and the production of methamphetamine.

The Indiana Methamphetamine Investigation System, or IMIS, allows retailers that sell pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient used to manufacture meth, to track those who exceed state limits of the drug, 6News' Rafael Sanchez reported.

Currently, paper logs that people sign to buy pseudoephedrine are not entered into any state computer, but simply stored at pharmacies and reviewed at the request of police.

"What we anticipate is seizing labs out there that we haven't found yet," said 1st Sgt. Niki Crawford, commander of the State Police Methamphetamine Suppression Section. "Some of those folks that have been flying under the radar are not flying under the radar anymore."

Walmart, CVS Pharmacy and Target have already signed on with the new automated system, and talks are underway with Walgreens, police said.

But some are worried that because the system is voluntary and only links together the data from 11 states, it may not be entirely effective.

Rep. Nancy Michael, D-Greencastle, said she would like to see the system made mandatory for all retailers.

"The consequences of not doing enough can be long term for society and it will end up costing us more," she said.

The data complied with IMIS will be made available to all city, county, state and federal authorities. The site also includes a form to report suspected meth activity anonymously and more information about the dangers of the drugs.

Since adopting the same system in 2004, the Tennessee Meth Task Force has identified more than 500,000 purchases made by documented methamphetamine offenders or by individuals who exceeded the legal purchase amount of pseudoephedrine, officials said.

As of Aug. 1, Indiana State Police have responded to 734 meth labs.

More Information: Indiana Methamphetamine Investigation System