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More traffic tickets ARE being issued www.privateofficer.com
February 6, 2009
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More traffic tickets ARE being issued http://www.privateofficer.com
Atlanta GA. Feb 6 2009
By: Rick McCann
Ntl. Assoc. Private Officers
http://www.privateofficer.com/
On his way to work like a thousand times before, James quickly pulled into his usual coffee stop, filled up his mug, grabbed a package of sugar doughnuts, and was back on the road headed for his office and another 10 hour day. But no sooner did he pull his car onto the street in front of the coffee shop; he had to stop again, this time because the police were pulling him over.
The motorcycle cop made his way up to the driver’s side window and asked for license, registration and proof of insurance in a matter of fact way. James, knowing that he was not speeding and had only traveled a few feet since leaving the coffee shop asked the officer, what the violation was. The officer pointed to his seatbelt. He had forgotten or just didn’t get to latching it and that was the violation.
In this cash strapped environment for city and county governments, some police departments have been asked to step up traffic enforcement and write more tickets. While some city administrators and police management say there is no quota system in place and no increase in traffic violations enforcement, other states like Ohio and Michigan have recently increased fines and have begun allowing seat belt tickets to be issued where it had only been a secondary violation, meaning no ticket unless the officer pulls you over for another violation like speeding or running a stop sign.
More cash-strapped states want to give law enforcement officers the authority to pull over motorists who aren’t wearing seat belts.The 15 states, including Ohio, that are considering making the switch need to do so before July to be eligible for millions in federal money.Ohio would get $26.8 million from the federal government. Currently, law enforcement officers in the state need to have some other reason to stop drivers over before issuing seat-belt citations.
Twenty-six states and the District of Columbia already have primary seat-belt enforcement laws, meaning police can stop a vehicle for a seat belt violation, even if this is the only violation the officers notice.
Ohio faces a $7.3 billion projected budget deficit over the next two years compared to current funding levels, leading Strickland to propose 120 fee and fine hikes, payroll reductions for state employees, and the delay of debt payments into future years.
This week, police departments in North Carolina and Florida have also admitted that they have stepped up certain types of traffic enforcement and one department admitted adding officers to their traffic division for this purpose.
It has been a noticeable trend that when the economy is weak and budgets are being cut, that officers from many agencies including city, county and state do step up their ticket writing and are less likely to issue verbal or written warnings for even the most minor of infractions. While some may say it’s all about money and they may be right on the mark in their observations, law enforcement officials say it’s about safety.
While most people think that the police department writing the ticket gets to keep all of the income that they generate from the tickets, the truth is that in most communities, the bulk of the ticket fees go to the state general funds while a small portion is sent to the city or county who wrote the ticket. Still, if your city police force writes 5,000 tickets a month the income can quickly add up and be very beneficial in these sour economical times. It’s a form of generating revenue without spending additional money to get that income even if they are taking it from the unemployed, disabled, poor drivers.
The bottom line however is that the laws are written by people that we have elected to our state legislation and the police officers just enforce those laws. While during certain times they may use their discretion as to how they enforce those laws it is not always left up to the officer and a violation is a violation and as responsible citizens we have to be ready to pay the piper for breaking the law. So buckle up, watch your speed, use your blinkers and be a safe and responsible driver!
On his way to work like a thousand times before, James quickly pulled into his usual coffee stop, filled up his mug, grabbed a package of sugar doughnuts, and was back on the road headed for his office and another 10 hour day. But no sooner did he pull his car onto the street in front of the coffee shop; he had to stop again, this time because the police were pulling him over.
The motorcycle cop made his way up to the driver’s side window and asked for license, registration and proof of insurance in a matter of fact way. James, knowing that he was not speeding and had only traveled a few feet since leaving the coffee shop asked the officer, what the violation was. The officer pointed to his seatbelt. He had forgotten or just didn’t get to latching it and that was the violation.
In this cash strapped environment for city and county governments, some police departments have been asked to step up traffic enforcement and write more tickets. While some city administrators and police management say there is no quota system in place and no increase in traffic violations enforcement, other states like Ohio and Michigan have recently increased fines and have begun allowing seat belt tickets to be issued where it had only been a secondary violation, meaning no ticket unless the officer pulls you over for another violation like speeding or running a stop sign.
More cash-strapped states want to give law enforcement officers the authority to pull over motorists who aren’t wearing seat belts.The 15 states, including Ohio, that are considering making the switch need to do so before July to be eligible for millions in federal money.Ohio would get $26.8 million from the federal government. Currently, law enforcement officers in the state need to have some other reason to stop drivers over before issuing seat-belt citations.
Twenty-six states and the District of Columbia already have primary seat-belt enforcement laws, meaning police can stop a vehicle for a seat belt violation, even if this is the only violation the officers notice.
Ohio faces a $7.3 billion projected budget deficit over the next two years compared to current funding levels, leading Strickland to propose 120 fee and fine hikes, payroll reductions for state employees, and the delay of debt payments into future years.
This week, police departments in North Carolina and Florida have also admitted that they have stepped up certain types of traffic enforcement and one department admitted adding officers to their traffic division for this purpose.
It has been a noticeable trend that when the economy is weak and budgets are being cut, that officers from many agencies including city, county and state do step up their ticket writing and are less likely to issue verbal or written warnings for even the most minor of infractions. While some may say it’s all about money and they may be right on the mark in their observations, law enforcement officials say it’s about safety.
While most people think that the police department writing the ticket gets to keep all of the income that they generate from the tickets, the truth is that in most communities, the bulk of the ticket fees go to the state general funds while a small portion is sent to the city or county who wrote the ticket. Still, if your city police force writes 5,000 tickets a month the income can quickly add up and be very beneficial in these sour economical times. It’s a form of generating revenue without spending additional money to get that income even if they are taking it from the unemployed, disabled, poor drivers.
The bottom line however is that the laws are written by people that we have elected to our state legislation and the police officers just enforce those laws. While during certain times they may use their discretion as to how they enforce those laws it is not always left up to the officer and a violation is a violation and as responsible citizens we have to be ready to pay the piper for breaking the law. So buckle up, watch your speed, use your blinkers and be a safe and responsible driver!
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