I was told the cops in my town have a quota for traffic tickets. Apparently it does not matter at all if these cops arrest "bad guys".but if they dont simply write traffic tickets they can be suspended with out pay from the department???? I would rather see the police looking for real criminals and drug dealers than writing "speeders". Are there no ETHICS anymore????
2007-02-25 16:54:38 · 16 answers · asked by Horse Lover 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I know this will come as a shock to you, but traffic enforcement is the base of the law enforcement pyramid. Timothy McVeigh was arrested for a traffic violation which lead to the discovery of his involvement in the OKC bombing.
So my point is, do you have enough ethics to admit that there is more than 1 side to this discussion or is your mind made up already?
I guess that is the test, can you learn from being told another point of view? Drug interdiction hinges on stopping vehicles involved in drug activity. You don't stop them because you got a newsflash they had a trunk full of cocaine, you stop them for violating traffic laws and see what suspicious activity comes out of it.
2007-02-25 17:00:11 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 3⤋
When it comes to politics (you have to remember that the sherrif is and elected position) there is no such thing as ethics. Also, most cities that have a quota for traffic tickets are referred to as speed traps and are considered illegal. Take for example Macks Creek, Missouri. For years that place wrote tickets like crazy. They even reduced the speed limit to 25 mph on a two lane highway that was a significant distance away from any part of the tiny city. After decades of this town stealing from unsuspecting travelers, the state shut the whole thing down. Not only did they stop the ticketing, the shut the whole city government down. Apparently over 75% of the cities revenue was coming from speeding tickets.
Lesson: beware of towns with speed limit signs spaced less than two blocks apart... they are up to no good!
2007-02-26 23:29:35 · answer #2 · answered by B H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They don't have "quotas" as such but if they are traffic cops and they aren't writing tickets then their supervisor could surmise that they aren't doing their job. After all, there are always a certain number of speeders, illegal lane changers, etc. out there every day. If a cop doesn't see SOME of them then maybe he is spending too much time in the coffee shop eating donuts.
2007-02-26 01:31:04 · answer #3 · answered by Ellen J 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
As Citicop stated, "there are no quotas;" however, writing tickets are part of the job; officers can be discliplined for not doing their job.
This is like, "There is no Mafia;" and "Read my lips, I will not raise taxes."
Thus, wink wink nod nod, there are no quotas.
That said, pretextual traffic stops are the probable cause officers need to stop suspiscious-looking vehicles. Although racial targeting in stopping vehicles is illegal, discriminating between which vehicle to stop is in the domain of the officer.
However, sometimes the officers get lucky, and bust a drunken driver, drug dealer or a person with a warrant for his arrest.
Therefore, a minimum amount of tickets issued as a department policy may be instrumental for indirectly controlling crime...
2007-02-26 04:35:09 · answer #4 · answered by MenifeeManiac 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Traffic ticket quota is being implemented for policemen to force them to work and the victims are the minor violators. The mission of the Polce must be to track down the hardened criminals but must be lenient on motorists.
2007-02-26 01:03:09 · answer #5 · answered by FRAGINAL, JTM 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Quotas have been ruled illegal by courts at every level of government.
So, no, there are no quotas for the police in your town.
HOWEVER, writing traffic tickets is part of the job of a police officer. If an officer is not doing that part of his job up to the standards established by the Department, then he (or she) can be disciplined.
2007-02-26 01:00:40 · answer #6 · answered by Citicop 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Some deparments may, but the Michigan State Police DO NOT have ticket quotas. Yes, the powers that be do want traffic laws enforced and it is important that they are or we would have highways full of offenders.
2007-02-26 01:04:53 · answer #7 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
being a cop is a cushy government job that you cannot be fired from.....if you are writing tickets for j-walking and underage smoking and out after curfew you do not have the time to be the first cop thru the door on a drug bust.
2007-02-26 10:44:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Slow it down or eat your own shorts. Just, don't speed, use your traffic signals, come to complete stops. You should be okay if there is no infraction, there is generaly no ticket. Right
2007-02-26 01:18:37 · answer #9 · answered by 5-Stars 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I asked that same question to a friend of mine who is a part time police officer. She told me that they do have a quota, but I am not sure on the penalty for not reaching it.
2007-02-26 01:04:00 · answer #10 · answered by answerguy 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋