September 30, 2005

Ticket Quotas

It has been suspected for quite a while that Metro Police, under the leadership of Big Brother Serpas, might have be pushing an illegal traffic ticket quota within the department. It looks like it might be true after all.

The Teamsters Local 327 represents about 200 Metro police officers. Now the group has told News 2 that some officers are being disciplined for not writing a certain number of tickets each month. Officials with Metro Police say traffic stops are a crucial tool in their crime-fighting tool box. But as far as ticket quotas, police officials say there are none.

The Teamsters office was empty on Thursday. But Wednesday night, Teamsters official Jesse Case says the room was full of around 50 metro police officers, all complaining about the same thing.

"We've had dozens, literally dozens, of officers approach us regarding what may be an illegal quota system," said Case. "There are dozens of officers written up, given disciplinary statements saying they're being disciplined, because they haven't written enough traffic tickets."

Traffic stops are a crucial tool in fighting crime? Then why is crime on the rise?

Here's an idea. Stop with the illegal quota system, and get the cops out of their cars so that they can interact with the community. Assign them to regular walk beats around the neighborhoods (especially where crime is higher). Engage the community.

If you want to enforce something, enforce politeness and make sure that the officers make an effort to get to know the people in their area...that is if you want crime to go down.

Remember, you are serving the public...it's not the other way around.

Comments:

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I received a speeding ticket last weekend for dong 40 in a 30. Fair enough. My headlight had gone out that night. So, I have to get that fixed and mail in the receipt. Not 24 hours later I was pulled over for my headlight again. And again I was given a ticket, even though I told the officer I had received one less than 24 hours earlier. I am a teacher who is also going back to school full time. I dont have time to go to court, traffic school, etc. I am giong to pay the tickets because I dont have anything on my record. I will have to pay the "nullifiable" offense twice. That's $12 for each headlight offense. Plus the $50 for the speeding ticket. I would agree...there is a quota out there. My little brother is a police officer in another state. I told the officer who gave me the second ticket that I appreciated him doing his job. I guess the crime in Nashville must be way down if we live in a society where the cops are having to put a quota on traffic tickets in order to pay their wages. I think Big Brother Serpas has done a good job thus far but this quota crap is stupid. Put that in your pistol and smoke it.

Posted by: Creative Liberty at September 30, 2005 01:36 PM

Surprised at you taking at face value a charge originating from the teamsters in the midst of a union organizing campaign. While it may or may not have substance, one of the local TV stations gave a much more balanced view, noting other officers saying there was no quota. You have also neglected the broken window effect and the high percentage of traffic stops that lead to arrests for outstanding other warrants. I personally know of an alert officer who noted an apparent casing of a convenience store while off duty, called it in, the car was pulled over for a broken tailight, and skimasks and weapons were found in the car. I'm not saying there may not be quotas and there might not be an overemphasis, just that when a union in the midst of an organizing campaign makes a charge, we should check a little deeper before swallowing it whole.

Posted by: George Rand at September 30, 2005 01:41 PM

However, this campaign of going to traffic enforcement has not resulted in a drop in crime. It has risen in the stead.

Posted by: B at September 30, 2005 07:07 PM

I got yanked by an undercover black crown vic saying my license plate cover was too dark. A week before I'd been in a wreck where a cop had been looking all around my vehicle and never said a word about the plate cover.

This guy came up on me like a bat out of hell as I was going about 68 in a 70. (thanks cruise control) I saw him accelerating on me from a half a mile away. He was just using my tag as an excuse to stick his snout in my car.

The county got another twenty bucks out of me but I can't put a price on how less cool the back of my car looks.

Posted by: smantix at September 30, 2005 11:17 PM