Crappy economy = more tickets

[Slide Panda]

Not shocked to see the data to back this up - But (shocker) when the economy and tax revenue is down as a result, a measurable increase in the number of traffic citations issue is seen... At least in NC

"...for every 1 percent drop in government revenue, the number of traffic tickets issued per capita increases by 30 percent the following year."

The anti-conspiracy theory vein in me does really see the Police chiefs mandating more tickets...  But it is an interesting statistic, and the realistic side of me says 'eh, it figures..'

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/breaking/story/464966.html

[Jaman]

Took a road trip this weekend, and in addition to becoming a part of this statistic    I noticed alot more traps, people pulled over, etc...

It was also interesting that the area I noticed the higher than normal presence (& was ticketed) was an area that has been hit particularly hard...

[wbeck257]

Luckily, it isn't more tickets for not breaking the law...

[cyrus buelton]

Luckily, it isn't more tickets for not breaking the law...

+1

[He Man]

explains why i got doubled up the other day. :/

[tcspeedfreak]

but how much of this is the  starting to ticket people for things that they used to let slide or just gave written warnings l would like to hear a cop chime in on this to see what the actual reason is or if people are just becoming more lead footed

[Slide Panda]

or if people are just becoming more lead footed

I wonder about this aspect of it.  Times around tough, people are more stressed.  Stressed people drive more aggressively, faster etc.  It'd be interesting  to see a study of how people rate their stress levels and run that against those ticket stats - I'd be we would see some correlations.

[He Man]

oh, you ment moving....

how about this?

NYC is propsing a law that allows cops to ticket a parked bike for having a loud exahust. (to be determined by the EPA rating on the exahust system)

[tcspeedfreak]

oh, you ment moving....

moving or non moving i was kinda thinking of any minor infraction that sometimes they would let you go for without a ticket

[Slide Panda]

oh, you ment moving....

how about this?

NYC is propsing a law that allows cops to ticket a parked bike for having a loud exahust. (to be determined by the EPA rating on the exahust system)

That's already it's own big thread.  Totally crappy if they manage to pass it. 

[il d00d]

Anecdotally, I have seen a bunch of tickets handed out in my area.  On Christmas eve, they had a freeway U-turn underpass next to a busy shopping center set up as a ticket trap - pretty much a colossal dick move in my opinion (The City of Houston, not the LEOs.)  Why not wait a couple days, unless you are trying to, I dunno, make sure there are a bunch of cars out on the road?

And the CoH is the worst.  I would rather be pulled over by the Spanish Inquisition.  You either:  send them a bunch of money by mail, OR spend a vacation day in court.  There is no mailing anything in.
I once took option B, and spent six ass-numbing hours on a wooden bench.  I spent about two of those, minding my own business, reading a book in the back, until I had to move closer to the front after speaking with Doogie Howser, Assistant District Attorney (I swear the dude was 17).   When I opened my book again, I was informed by the bailiff that there was "No Reading, sir."

I was literally stunned.  "No...reading?"

I was just about inquire about the court's policies on thinking or respiration or metabolizing calories when he shot me a look that said "three and a half more years till my pension"

Yes, sir, no problem.

Anyways, CoH, yay.

[River]

Generally speaking, tickets=revenue enhancement.

[cyrus buelton]

So now they are actually ticketing for illegal driving that went on before?

[tcspeedfreak]

exactally

[cyrus buelton]

Maybe department's now are getting more money to put in place special units, like Traffic Enforcement.


They have one around here, about 5 cruisers during the day.