This is something I've always wondered. There always seems to be more cops out at the end of the month then at any other time. Is there a set number of tickets they need to issue—or is this just a myth? Just a thought. Thanks.
2007-10-21 18:15:16 · 16 answers · asked by Holly 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
There's no quota, but it is part of their job to write citations
2007-10-21 18:25:49 · answer #1 · answered by CGIV76 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No, but I did work for a Dept. that did have a "Performance Standard" that required at least "X" traffic warnings and "Y"(a much lower number) citations a month. It was a way the the Admin could keep track of an Officer's performance during the year. And it wasn't very hard to do either. The Dept. I work for now doesn't have such a thing, but the Chief still keeps track of citations written and it is used to evaluate us in our performance reviews.
Traffic enforcement is part of a Police Officer's, Sheriff's Deputy or State Trooper/Police Officers duties. While your larger Departments have a separate traffic enforcement Div. many do not and it's up to the Patrol Officers.
It's no different than a salesman who has to make "X" amount of sales in a month or a person working in a factory having to make the set rating of making so many pieces in an hour. It's part of the job and it has to be done.
2007-10-21 22:25:46 · answer #2 · answered by mebe1042 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
As it's been stated, quotas are illegal in every state. It's not that police have to give a certain amount of tickets, it's common sense. If you have a rather uneventful 8 hour shift and you show up at the precinct with one citation, your superiors are going to wonder what the heck you were doing the last 8 hours.
That being said, it completely depends on what kind of officer you are as to whether or not you're going to have a bunch of traffic tickets at the end of a shift. If you're an undercover watching the Red Light for prostitution on a certain shift, naturally you aren't going to be expected to have a bunch of traffic citations.
If nothing else, when it comes time for promotions and raises, your superiors really do look to how much revenue you've brought in over the last quarter or so.
2007-10-21 18:49:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
No quota. This is a favorite myth of people who don't like the police.
We are allowed to write all the traffic tickets we want.
In my state most of the money from traffic enforcement goes to the school system. It doesn't matter if I write one, none, or a hundred.
When I do my squad's evals I don't look at citation numbers. I look at how many traffic stops an officer makes, how many suspicious persons they check out on, how much of their call load is dispatched and how much is self-initiated. I want to see that my troops are working. How they handle an incident (ticket, arrest, warning, ect.) is up to them.
2007-10-21 23:52:32 · answer #4 · answered by El Scott 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
In most (perhaps all) states, it is illegal for departments to set quotas for officers.
However, there are often informal understandings that police officers will write a certain number of tickets. Otherwise, their supervisors will think they're slacking off on the job.
2007-10-21 18:31:37 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
They are not quotas.
Quotas are an expected number of citations an officer must write every day (ever month, etc).
The word "quota" has become a taboo in many police departments, due to litigations.
However, it can be said that patrol officers are anticipated to write X Y or Z citations within a week/month/day etc, and failure to issue citations to the anticipated amount can result in disciplinary action.
So, in as many other words... if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, walks like a duck, is it a duck? No, it could well be Anas platyrhynchos. but how many other ways can you say duck without saying duck?
How many other ways can you call a quota a quota without using the specific word?
Many police departments have carefully worded policies that do not use the word 'quota'.... but their message is apparently the same.
Good Luck
2007-10-21 19:28:54 · answer #6 · answered by Anna 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
My dad worked in regulation Enforcement and that i had constantly puzzled approximately that myself by way of fact I had heard that they did. yet he says that they have got not got quotas, its purely that in the event that they do no longer seem to be giving tickets then something is inaccurate by way of fact people are continuously breaking the regulation. If a site visitors Cop is presented in after an entire day of duty with no need written any tickets, his supervisors are going to ask your self what's inaccurate by way of fact there are constantly speeders and undesirable drivers accessible. additionally, they do no longer seem to be discouraged from writing tickets for minor infractions by way of fact the gross sales paid to the state to pay off site visitors violations facilitates to pay their salaries so there is a few incentive.
2016-10-07 09:15:49 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well when i went to traffic i asked that question and the teacher a former highway patrol said they at least have to give out 4 or more tickets a day so i don't think it's a myth.
2007-10-21 18:26:44 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Quotas have been ruled illegal in every court that has examined them.
Writing tickets is part of being a police officer, but they can't mandate a number that must be written.
2007-10-21 18:30:18 · answer #9 · answered by Citicop 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
They always deny it, although it often seems like the do.
The fact of the matter is, I have seen cops giving out tickets at a state park facility, just to vent a frustration. I have seen others at the same site merely stopping cars and yapping out a warning. Nothing written
I guess it is all a measure of how bullyish they feel that day.
2007-10-21 22:53:01 · answer #10 · answered by TURANDOT 6 · 0⤊ 5⤋