Do cops have to meet a quota for tickets? If so, isn't that a conflict of interest?

[robzilla]

I know that it is safe to assume that in most areas, it's not hard to find people breaking the law. However, us gamblers know there is no such thing as a sure bet. So what happens when a cop doesn't find anyone breaking a law? Do they just make up stuff?

I ask cuz I got a speeding ticket for 10km/h over the limit, which is hardly anything. They guy looked like he was looking for an excuse to give me a ticket.

Oh well, I heard radar guns give you cancer. So he will probably get one of his nuts chopped off and I be happy about it.

[area51steve]

The answer to your question is simple... Yes... They will pull you over at any time for no reason just to meet a quota.. And it's their word against ours.. One time I got a ticket for going through a yellow blinking light and the cop pulls me over and told me it was red and I had to go to court and pay the fine..
Its bullsh*t!!!!! I think I speak for most people when I say f*ck the police!!

[TexansFan]

While I'm sure there are some departments that do, especially those real small towns or cities whose revenue depend on traffic tickets, the larger ones do not. It's funny that you say that I was only going 10 mph over the speed limit, which is hardly anything. Did you also ask the cop why he wasn't out finding real criminals?

One thing to remember, in the bigger cities you have officers who are assigned to a traffic and accident division. The only job they have is to go out and write tickets. They also get grant money to go out and do nothng but find DWI's, seatbelt violators, speeding violators, etc. That money is handed down from the gov't and is to be used exclusively for those purposes.

It's hard to complain about getting a ticket when you come out and admit that you were actually speeding. There is no law anywhere that says you get a free pass as long as you're within 5 or 10 mph of the speed limit. You can receive a ticket for going 1 mph over the limit. Take defensive driving if you haven't had it recently.

[TexansFan]

The answer to your question is simple... Yes... They will pull you over at any time for no reason just to meet a quota.. And it's their word against ours.. One time I got a ticket for going through a yellow blinking light and the cop pulls me over and told me it was red and I had to go to court and pay the fine..
Its bullsh*t!!!!! I think I speak for most people when I say f*ck the police!!

Yea, nobody is ever guilty. Just go to a prison and ask the inmates, they are all innocent.

[robzilla]

While I'm sure there are some departments that do, especially those real small towns or cities whose revenue depend on traffic tickets, the larger ones do not. It's funny that you say that I was only going 10 mph over the speed limit, which is hardly anything. Did you also ask the cop why he wasn't out finding real criminals?

Cause Im not stupid. If I said why arent you out finding real criminals then that 10km over turns into 30 or 40 km over the limit. There is not actual evidence except his word.

I only admit that it was 10km to the cop cause in court I would get a fine for what I admitted, which also means the cop doesnt have to go to court because I admitted guilt.... but only on the lowest fine.

[area51steve]

Yea, nobody is ever guilty. Just go to a prison and ask the inmates, they are all innocent.

We're talking about minor traffic violations.. Not murder, drugs, etc..

[TexansFan]

Unless you just mail in the payment for the fine you still have to go to court to plead guilty or not guilty. If you haven't had defensive driving in the past year it's worth your time to go and ask the judge for it. You must live in some crooked small town because I don't know of any cop who is going to just bump it up to 30 or 40 over because you said that.

If he got you on the radar then there is proof. A cop is not going to lie under oath and risk getting fired and sent to jail because he wants to stick it to you.

[TexansFan]

We're talking about minor traffic violations.. Not murder, drugs, etc..

It applies to traffic court as well. You can have it on videotape, as most cars now have the camera mounted on the dashboard, and people will still claim innocent. Are there crooked cops out there? You bet there are. are there cops who should not be allowed to carry a badge and gun? You bet. Like all professions there are good and bad, but for the most part they just do their job properly and go home.

[Mr KLC]

I hate those cameras that they have posted over the lights. I was trying to go through a yellow light a few weeks ago. It wasn't yellow but for maybe a second and then it turned red before I could get through it. It was dark outside and the next thing you know everything is lighting up. I knew I just had my picture taken. Sure enough, I get a letter in the mail with all the pictures stating I was caught and the fine is $50. I'm sure those cameras take a lot of the manual labor out of catching motorists.

[TexansFan]

I hate those cameras that they have posted over the lights. I was trying to go through a yellow light a few weeks ago. It wasn't yellow but for maybe a second and then it turned red before I could get through it. It was dark outside and the next thing you know everything is lighting up. I knew I just had my picture taken. Sure enough, I get a letter in the mail with all the pictures stating I was caught and the fine is $50. I'm sure those cameras take a lot of the manual labor out of catching motorists.

Well the only good thing about those cameras is that the ticket is a civil fine and will not go onto your driving record. The reason is that it just takes a picture of the plate and they can't prove who is actually driving the vehicle.

If you have someone you hate just borrow their car and run all the lights that have a camera watching.

[area51steve]

It applies to traffic court as well. You can have it on videotape, as most cars now have the camera mounted on the dashboard, and people will still claim innocent. Are there crooked cops out there? You bet there are. are there cops who should not be allowed to carry a badge and gun? You bet. Like all professions there are good and bad, but for the most part they just do their job properly and go home.

Yes, not ALL cops are crooked.. Some are OK in my books..
This one time I actually got lucky.. Me and a buddy pulled up to each other at a stop light and said f*ck it, lets peel out and race.. We both floored it and raced, next thing ya know I see the sirens in the rear view, my friend pulls over and as I'm about to pull over and face getting a ticket, I roll down my window and theres a lady cop who waved her hand and said "just go, now". I couldn't believe it.. I still give my buddy sh*t about it to this day.. He ended up getting the ticket and I got away clean..

[Willie Bee]

I think I speak for most people when I say f*ck the police!!

If you do indeed speak for most people, then count me amongst the minority. I wish they would crack down harder in and around my part of the country, especially on speeders and those running red lights. Just will never understand the mentality of someone who takes other lives in their hands simply to get to the next red light 11.1 seconds quicker.

[TexansFan]

There are a lot of people who don't like cops, until they need one.

[Mr KLC]

Well the only good thing about those cameras is that the ticket is a civil fine and will not go onto your driving record. The reason is that it just takes a picture of the plate and they can't prove who is actually driving the vehicle.

If you have someone you hate just borrow their car and run all the lights that have a camera watching.

LOL! The funny thing is it was in my wife's car and she was trying to figure out when they caught her. I guess I should have kept my mouth shut and let her take the blame.

[Ballin]

I just got a ticket yesterday for following too closely on a highway in perfect driving conditions. He gave me a warning for speeding when I was going 5 miles over the speed limit. Yes they have quotas they have to meet. Complete BS if you ask me.

[TexansFan]

I just got a ticket yesterday for following too closely on a highway in perfect driving conditions. He gave me a warning for speeding when I was going 5 miles over the speed limit. Yes they have quotas they have to meet. Complete BS if you ask me.

If the cop had a quota why didn't he issue the speeding ticket as well? Might as well go over that supposed quota right?

[Mr KLC]

I remember watching an episode of "CHiPs". Ponch was off duty and got pulled over because he didn't use his turn signal to change lanes. Now in present time, I have a neighbor who's left turn signal has been out for over a year and he hasn't gotten pulled over once for it. My how times have changed.

[Ballin]

How many people have you met or know that got a ticket for going 5 over on a highway? Didn't think so.

[area51steve]

I just got a ticket yesterday for following too closely on a highway in perfect driving conditions. He gave me a warning for speeding when I was going 5 miles over the speed limit. Yes they have quotas they have to meet. Complete BS if you ask me.

Yep, what pisses me off is when your on the highway and you see some idiot go past you at like 90mph and they get away clean, but we'll get pulled over for goin only 5mph over the limit.. Cops gotta meet their quotas..

[TexansFan]

Also, were you in an accident? I have never seen a citation issued for following to closely that wasn't issued as the result of an accident.

[TexansFan]

I remember watching an episode of "CHiPs". Ponch was off duty and got pulled over because he didn't use his turn signal to change lanes. Now in present time, I have a neighbor who's left turn signal has been out for over a year and he hasn't gotten pulled over once for it. My how times have changed.

CHIPS? Please. That sounds like when someone gets shot the response is "why didn't they just shoot the gun out of his hand?''

[TexansFan]

Have you ever seen or know anyone who has received a ticket for going the speed limit? Again, you don't get a free mph grace period where you won't be ticketed. I hear people say as long as you're within 10 of the speed limit you're ok. Honestly, where do people come up with this stuff?

[area51steve]

I remember watching an episode of "CHiPs". Ponch was off duty and got pulled over because he didn't use his turn signal to change lanes. Now in present time, I have a neighbor who's left turn signal has been out for over a year and he hasn't gotten pulled over once for it. My how times have changed.

He probably uses his arms to signal when he turns.. So even if he does get pulled over he can say the turn signal just went out the other day..

[area51steve]

Have you ever seen or know anyone who has received a ticket for going the speed limit? Again, you don't get a free mph grace period where you won't be ticketed. I hear people say as long as you're within 10 of the speed limit you're ok. Honestly, where do people come up with this stuff?

Even if your going the speed limit, a cop can pull you over and say you were speeding and give you a ticket. It's the cops word against yours. If they need to meet a quota they will do as they please.

[TexansFan]

Even if your going the speed limit, a cop can pull you over and say you were speeding and give you a ticket. It's the cops word against yours. If they need to meet a quota they will do as they please.

Ok. Why would a cop do that and have to appear in court and lie about a ticket he/she doesn't personally benefit from? Do you think cops get a certain % of money from the tickets they write? If they did I can assure you that there would be so many tickets written there would be congressional hearing on the matter.

Trust me, no cop cares about the person they are writing a ticket to that would jeopardize their job.

[area51steve]

Ok. Why would a cop do that and have to appear in court and lie about a ticket he/she doesn't personally benefit from? Do you think cops get a certain % of money from the tickets they write? If they did I can assure you that there would be so many tickets written there would be congressional hearing on the matter.

Trust me, no cop cares about the person they are writing a ticket to that would jeopardize their job.

The thing is most people will just pay the fine because they don't want to plead not guilty and have to come back to court AGAIN to fight a ticket they will probably be found guilty of and have to pay anyway.. And what kind of proof will this person have they didn't break the law?? As far as the police not personally benefiting from the tickets they write, maybe they don't benefit money wise, but they do have quotas that they either want or need to meet and once they meet them for whatever time period, then they won't have to issue tickets for no reason until they once again have to.

[Dark Horse]

A LA cop told me in traffic school about the quota. They like to meet it fast, so they can spend the rest of the day in the donut shop.

[area51steve]

A LA cop told me in traffic school about the quota. They like to meet it fast, so they can spend the rest of the day in the donut shop.

lol.. they love their donuts.. I wish I had a box of dunkin donuts everytime I got pulled over.. Here ya go officer.. The donuts are on me.. Thanks for lettin me go.. lol

[TexansFan]

Some of you guys need to stop watching cop shows on T.V. By the way, CSI isn't to real either.

[robzilla]

Unless you just mail in the payment for the fine you still have to go to court to plead guilty or not guilty. If you haven't had defensive driving in the past year it's worth your time to go and ask the judge for it. You must live in some crooked small town because I don't know of any cop who is going to just bump it up to 30 or 40 over because you said that.

If he got you on the radar then there is proof. A cop is not going to lie under oath and risk getting fired and sent to jail because he wants to stick it to you.

A cop will lie under oath, many do all the time.

Small town cops arent as crooked as large city cops like in New York. There are stories about corupt cops all the time. Are you living under a rock or something? It's a fairly large % that are corupt in someway. I seen example all time. I grew up in a tough area.

[robzilla]

It applies to traffic court as well. You can have it on videotape, as most cars now have the camera mounted on the dashboard, and people will still claim innocent. Are there crooked cops out there? You bet there are. are there cops who should not be allowed to carry a badge and gun? You bet. Like all professions there are good and bad, but for the most part they just do their job properly and go home.

Then whos to say if I was dealing with a good cop or a cooked cop?

[TexansFan]

You don't really know what you're talking about Rob. You can say anything you want but you got to back it up. How many cops in NY? I'm guessing about 40k, not including all the others that NY has that do other jobs. So you're telling me that 20k cops in NY are crooked? That's ridiculous and you cannot back that up with any facts.

"I grew up in a tough area" So? That makes you an expert on the subject? How old are you? I'm betting under thirty and someone who has been arrested before.

[robzilla]

This is from a guy who used to be a cop.

OH THANK YOU FOR ASKING ABOUT ONE OF MY PET PEEVES!!!!
Officially quotas are illegal, however most agencies get around that now days, and YES, they do have quotas. Only now they call them contact point systems or some other euphemism. They say they don't have quotas but if you don't have your contact points up at the end of the month or around evaluation time you will hear about it. And how do you get contact points? Each agency is different, but the one I worked for gave certain points for certain contacts, but tickets were heavily weighted.
You would get a single contact point for each ticket you wrote and one for each call you took. Now here is the game they play.
---If you are more interested in criminal work so you handle burglaries and thefts and assaults in depth you get one point for each case, even if it takes you 16 hours to investigate it. Burglaries and robberies take hours and hours to handle yet you only get one point.
---Then you have RADAR O'reilly who is a ticket demon. It takes 10 minutes to write a chincey seat belt ticket and 15 for a slipshod speeding pinch. So O'reilly writes 30 tickets in a day and gets 30 points while the crime fighter gets maybe 4-5 points for handling a burglary and a felony theft or robbery and 2 for a couple family fights.
Come promotion time who do you think they promote, the ticket demon with 4000 contact points or the competant criminalist who maybe has 300 because he does good police work??
Of course you already know why they do it. All that ticket money goes into the general fund and a % comes back to the agency to spend on new fancier RADAR guns, Lasers, etc.
---This never happened until the law changed about where the fine money went. It used to be 100% of all fine money went into the state school fund, then around 1980 they changed the law so that our ticket fines went into the general fund, not the school fund AND the department got a % kick back. That's when all this ticket pressure started. Constant pressure to write tickets to people on the interstates that go through our county so that we bring in money from out of town and because out of towners rarely fight a ticket. Of course they never admit that in public but they assign special traffic enforcement cars that only work those highways that out of towners travel and they tell you all to work those highways constantly.
---OH and here is another game they play. RADAR Oreilly writes 30 speeding tickets a day. There is NO way to write 30 competant traffic reports a day. He doesn't write ANY report or the barest on the ticket. Why? Because he knows that most people just pay off their tickets and don't demand trials. Even if the DA won't take any tickets by him to trial because they are poor risks he knows that even if they dismiss half of them he still has 15 tickets a day that get paid off, thats over a $1500 a day. And the admin LOVES him!
---Guys like myself who refused this game and fought it through the union and other ways got passed over for promotions and harrassed constantly. At evaluations they try to gig you for not having enough contact points until you make it clear you will grieve it with the union and go to court. Then they just magically decide to let you slide, but write BA on your evaluations (BAD ATTITUDE). Fortunately where I worked the good cops out numbered the traffic point players and the department never got their way completely.
Is it a conflict of interest? What it is is a damned crime in my opinion, its a blight on the honest cops who want to help people, but who am I but a duty diabled retiree.
And lest you think this is only here that this happens you are wrong. Almost 90% of medium and large agencies have contact point systems of one kind or another.
Oh yah and lest you think I am just a disgruntled trouble maker or a case or sour grapes, I served in a medium sized sheriff's department, 125 deputies, for 19 years and a police department for 3 years prior to that. During that time I worked as a primary response/ traffic deputy, a warrant server, judicial bodyguard and driver, felony flight return officer, detective and a very short time as a supervisor. During those years I received 23 commendations before a fleeing drunk driver hit my cruiser and shattered my knee, blew out two discs and broke my neck, ending my career.
Although I was thoroughly disgusted with the last administration of my department I was proud to serve the people of my community.
2 hours ago
Source(s):
Disgusted retired cop of 21 years

[TexansFan]

WOW! Well, if ONE cop says it's true then it must be for every agency in the entire U.S.

Does JJ represent you as a gambler?

[robzilla]

You don't really know what you're talking about Rob. You can say anything you want but you got to back it up. How many cops in NY? I'm guessing about 40k, not including all the others that NY has that do other jobs. So you're telling me that 20k cops in NY are crooked? That's ridiculous and you cannot back that up with any facts.

"I grew up in a tough area" So? That makes you an expert on the subject? How old are you? I'm betting under thirty and someone who has been arrested before.

Ever seen the movie American Gangster. Based on testimony from the only cop who wasnt crooked at the time.

Never been arrested.

Im guessing you are a gun carrying American who waves the patriot act in peoples faces because you are under the impression that you are safe as long as you got your gun and the po-lice is out there potecting you from Osama bin Laden and the other A-rabs. Why dont u get off the SBR forum and go to the cop forum where u can meet a boyfriend and you guys can dance to YMCA in your cop uniforms.