Federal Gas Tax Money Fuels Ticket Quotas Nationwide

[HardDrive]

Unfreaking believeable. THIS is what my tax dollars are paying for?!?!?!

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/21/2106.asp


Law enforcement agencies across the country are encouraged to write tickets with prizes paid for by federal gas tax dollars.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Agency (NHTSA) diverts federal gas tax revenue to offer incentives for local police to increase the number of traffic tickets written. In South Carolina, for example, the state police on Tuesday presented six new, fully-equipped police cruisers to local agencies with the best traffic citation performance. A NHTSA grant paid for the Dodge Chargers as well as the other gifts and prizes offered. Although organizers assert that the incentive program is solely motivated by safety, the South Carolina celebration was held just two days after one of the state's most deadly travel weekends in recent memory. Overall this year, traffic fatalities stand at 987 this year, up from 974 in the first eleven months of 2006.

The Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) likewise participates in the NHTSA-funded National Law Enforcement Challenge. Last month, it chose to hand the departments with the most high-profile ticketing efforts either a Harley Davidson Road King motorcycle or a Dodge Magnum with a police pursuit package that includes "a HEMI engine with cold air induction and a Borla exhaust system." Local agencies work hard to earn these prizes.

"When we first announced this custom-equipped car at the Governor's Challenge event in September, we had a standing-room-only crowd straining to see the pursuit vehicle," GOHS Deputy Director Spencer Moore said.

Agencies must provide National Law Enforcement Challenge Award review panels with ticket counts for their application to be complete. An agency will lose points if it fails to mention that it operates a "zero tolerance" no-warning policy. Educational efforts and new training methods can also earn rewards, but it is clear from the sampling of 2004 and 2005 winners listed below that coming up with a new way to ticket motorists in a covert fashion is the most common way to earn a department a new police cruiser:

"Police officers dress as Santa Claus in Moreno Valley, California to work crosswalks near schools." Those who drive too closely to Santa get a ticket.
Florida Highway Patrol's "Operation Hardhat" used police disguised as highway workers to issue tickets.
Kissimmee and Osceola County, Florida police "use patrol officers dressed as tourists, homeless people, bucket truck operators and disabled motorists to catch violators with radar."
Caledonia, Vermont sheriff's office "hands out packages of mini donuts to motorists" who wear seatbelts when approaching a ticketing roadblock.
On "Maroon Day" every single member of the Minnesota State Patrol, regardless of rank or duty, is required to issue traffic tickets.
Arizona state police became "certified" in the use of force to draw blood from motorists suspected of DUI on the side of the road.
"Utilizing an unmarked van equipped with speed measurement devices, camera equipment and interactive computers, a Maryland Trooper covertly documents violations."
San Carlos, California sets up the neighborhood "pace car" program where citizen participants pledge to block any traffic attempting to drive over the speed limit.
Colorado Springs, Colorado police set up roadblocks to ticket motorists who choose or neglect to wear a seatbelt.
Atlanta, Georgia is rewarded for using aircraft to write "zero tolerance" speeding tickets and Fairfax, Virginia for setting up roadblocks.
Sixty-five Washington DC area agencies won for the "Smooth Operator" ticketing blitz.
Stafford County, Virginia created "enhanced fine" zones for greater ticketing revenue.
Burlington, Vermont handed citizens radar guns so they can issue warning notices to their neighbors.
Fort Campbell, Kentucky police officers receive commander coins for making "an extra effort in enforcement." The coin can be turned in for a free day off.
Washington state police used five fixed-wing Cessnas to write speeding tickets.
DeKalb County, Georgia agencies won for its "one hundred days of summer HEAT" ticketing campaign.

[dhoward]

There are no quotas.
Silly.

[looneybin]

thats correct, no quotas, they can write as many tickets as they want
BTW i got 2 tickets in the same day - from the same cop - both for no front plate.
even when i showed him his previous ticket, he didn't care & wrote me up again.

[strupgolf]

Un-fricking believable, I knew the cops are this way at times, but to get prizes and days off for writing tickets is a shame. Around here, it's the "click-it-or-ticket" event, where they get paid overtime to do the job they are supposed to be doing anyway.

[frogger]

Speeding? Who speeds?

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Government and their stooges are no longer accountable to the public. Do you people not see this?

[Superman]

A policeman gave a presentation recently in which he as asked about quotas. He said there are not "quotas." He did however, say there are "expectations."

[TGTIW]

But they're doing it for our "safety."

Perhaps then next great revolution truely is brewing...

[Bill Verburg]

Wait til you see who gets farm subsidies and why. or how ss tax receipts are handled or ... do I really need to go on?

[1fastredsc]

I'm having a great day today. I got a parking ticket from the NMSU parking nazis for parking in the faculty section while i was in the NMSU health center. Plus i found out i might have a form of mono, and a bird took a huge crap on my car. I'm having a great day.......
EDIT: Did i mention that the NMSU police all drive brand new chargers?

[RoninLB]

If you're not cop you're little people.

[sammyg2]

I'm going to have to research this further. My first instict was this this is BS, there aint a shred of truth to that story. Color me skeptical.

[strupgolf]

It's probably not BS, cops will do anything to get a free donut and coffee.

[Jeff Higgins]

One of my best riding buddies is a cop. He insists there are no quotas. "We get to write as many as we want..."

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Government and their stooges are no longer accountable to the public. Do you people not see this?

I see this. Any suggestions on how to change it?

[RoninLB]

politicians are to scared to confront many issues.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by RoninLB

politicians are to scared to confront many issues.

Exactly. Getting re-elected, or elected is their goal. The public? Right or wrong? Fergit it...

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by 1fastredsc

I'm having a great day today. I got a parking ticket from the NMSU parking nazis for parking in the faculty section while i was in the NMSU health center. Plus i found out i might have a form of mono, and a bird took a huge crap on my car. I'm having a great day.......
EDIT: Did i mention that the NMSU police all drive brand new chargers?

Back in the old days I prolly coulda pulled some strings, but now now.
Both my grandparents and uncle were on the faculty there at one time. Of course they might not have liked you stealing their parking spot

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

I see this. Any suggestions on how to change it?

There are a few that come to mind with numerous historical precedents, but I think openly discussing them on a forum like this wouldn't be necessarily wise.