A couple of rumors that need dispelling.
1. Moving violations = Profit to the jurisdiction. At least where I am, traffic enforcement is not a revenue generator. Avg. cop with 5+ years gets paid about $80-90,000.00 per year. Add $40,000.00 in pension, med/dental benefits, and other MFB's (mandatory fringe benefits). Add the overhead involved in maintaining a policeman on the job i.e., certification, training, workers' compensation coverage, supervision, infrastructure, etc. Add the cost of supplies and equipment inc. buildings, vehicles, maintainance. Add the cost of insuring any city function. Add the civilian infrastructure needed to process citations, people from clerks to judges. Now, all that goes into the issuing of a citation, and a significant number of those citations are dismissed or the fines are reduced or there is school or service in lieu of fine. Anyway, in our area we don't do it to get rich, we lose money but it is for public safety.
2. Quotas = It is against the law (in my area) to establish quotas. Certainly there is an expectation of performance, but we, as cops, do not get microwaves or cash prizes for having the most tickets.
3. Fun and pleasure = while traffic stops can be challenging and exciting, pulling over your average citizen for a mover is generally not fun. He/she's mad, everyone in the car is glaring at you, you risk getting hit by a car, it can be cold or rainy, etc. Plus, you never know when that deadly "Jack in the Box" is going to pop up and try to shoot you because the guy who ran the stop sign just robbed a 7-11 and homey is hiding in the back seat with a Glock. Not to mention the frequent yelling (accompanied by spit spray) and berating we get.
4. Cops should fight "real crime" instead of wasting time writing tickets. Stop by any E.R. one night. The trauma centers have more people fighting for their lives or suffering tremendous injuries from motor vehicle accidents than from shootings, stranglings, knifings or beatings. Sure, I'm writing a ticket while some thief is kicking in a door to burglarize a house, or gang bangers are having a wild west shootout in the hood, or the guys in hoodies are selling rocks on the corner. Again, motor vehicle accidents cause more death, injury and property damage than those other crimes combined. Insurance should replace the loss of property, witnessing a drug sale won't get a conviction (you pretty much have to be involved in the buy) and we do allocate many, many resources to gang suppression.
There's more, but you get the picture. In my personal situation, the movers do not generate revenue, it is a public relations nightmare, it is risky, and it subjects us to abuse and stress.
Gotta' love this job!
Anyway, just a few comments from the "other side."
Peace
