do cops make commission $ by writing out citations/tickets?

Question

...AND IF NOT..WHY THEY GOTTA BE SO MEAN FOR? DAMN..ALL I DID WAS MAKE A TURN ON RED AND GOT A TICKET FOR $106! IT WAS AT 3 IN THE MORNING WHEN NO CARS WERE AROUND. COPS HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO! >=d

Answer 1

First off, dispite popular belief police do not have a quota. Second the state in which you commited the violation determines the fine if it is a state citation. City ordinances are a whole nother story. Unfortunately you probably ran into an officer who may have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed that morning, or maybe he is just a "by the book" kinda guy. I'm sure it was nothing personal.

Answer 2

It wouldn't surprise me if in some jurisdictions they do this.

Some places even budget for a certain amount of money brought in by traffic fines. Some of the more notorious speed traps in the south jump to mind.

I know that in Virginia, the Interstate 81 corridor has been named a specific zone for higher enforcement, which means not only will they have more police patrolling, but also that the tickets are at a higher amount.

As for the officer being "mean", some are, but most I guess would only respond to some provocation. Maybe having to be out doing traffic stops at 3 in the morning could make them a bit grumpy, too.

Being caught doing something wrong though, no matter what time it is, is no reason to gripe about police not having anything better to do. Maybe getting this ticket will make you think next time about not turning on red at a time when a motorcycle you didn't see if bearing down on the intersection leads to an accident, maybe injury or death.

Answer 3

It is illegal for a Police Officer to earn a commission as it would prejudice the case in court and it would be "thrown out". It is also unlawful to have quotas for the same reason. The defendants first question in court would be 'What was your motivation for issuing the citation? Commission or quota to keep your job?'

It is reasonable to expect a certain number of citations in areas with a history of violations and accidents.

The reason for giving you the ticket would most likely come from 1. You broke the law and they observed it and 2. a high number of traffic accidents at that location. Better to be giving you a legitimate ticket than to be sending someone to the hospital or Medical Examiner's' office. Don't blame the officer, but yourself for thinking you didn't need to follow the rules.

Answer 4

no the don't make a commission off the ticket, I don't know what state your from? but in most state it is illegal to turn on red light. but most of all red mean stop. but then in the other state you can turn on red light you have to come to a complete stop then proceed when its clear to do so. So the big question that you need to be asking yourself is did you come to complete stop before turning. If I was the officer I would write you a ticket if the law in the state or city doesn't allow you to turn on red if it was 8 am or 3 am the law is the law no matter what time it is. I could have been funny about it too by saying no they do have anything better to do all the drunks r home by then and all the donut shops are closed at that time.

Answer 5

No they don't make commission, as that would be a HUGE conflict of interest! And they don't really have quotas because most cops could write hundreds of tickets a day if they really wanted to. And the cop had nothing better to do than to do his job...

As for your situation, why didn't you wait until the light was green - what would it have taken, another 90 seconds? And I wouldn't be surprised if the cop saw you commit the violation and pulled you over to check if you were DUI.

Answer 6

No they don't make a commission but most cities have a quota system (here in Calgary Alberta it's been officially confirmed). So that being said I'm guessing that the ticket you got was in the end of the month. Cops will be more picky then if they have not met their quota. If they don't make their quota each month they get grief from their superiors and guess who suffers.... the public.

Sucks but be more vigilant especially at the end of the month.

Answer 7

Over here in Orange co. Ca., they have no quota. However, they are "encouraged" to compete with other cops....

"Hey Larry, your buddy Phil wrote 250 tickets last month, what's up with YOUR pen, run out of ink? need a NEW one?"

THAT kind of thing.

Then, there is the matter of promotions. Do you think the guy slacking off is gonna make Sergent? not likely.

You made a turn without stopping, which you do in the daytime too, and you SHOULD have been cited. STOP whining, and learn to obey the traffic laws.

Answer 8

Cops may get promotions, eventually, for the number of tickets they write; however, if there is a quota, it's not the cops who put it there, It's the Mayor or city council etc.

Getting the ticket you got means one of two things:

1) The cop was in a bad mood.
2) You got the cop in a bad mood.

Always treat police with respect (even when you're mad) and you will have fewer problems with them.

Answer 9

Some states have a quota to meet and you will usually get a ticket closer to the end of the month, I think. Some cops are on a power trip and use their authority to look like a bad *ss. Not all cops are this way though.

Answer 10

There's not a commission, but they are actually expected to write a certain amount of tickets a month, otherwise it seems like all they are doing is sitting in their car all day long. While I don't konw this to be true, there is an "urban legend" that more tickets are written on the last few days of a month for this reason.