Of course I meant evidence on the part of the defendent, not the cop.
I understand that the cop is the state’s witness and his sworn testimony is considered sufficient evidence by the state to prove the case. I may disagree with it for any number of reasons, but I know that’s the way it works.
Getting back to the OP.
That is a big debate among law enforcement types these days. It is the difference between measurable statistics (we arrested 900 bad guys last year) and prevention which is harder to explain (900 bad guys didn’t do anything bad last year) and harder yet to get funding for.
That said…So called community policing (more of a prevention style) is on its way back to the norm.
-Frankie
Lack of charisma can be fatal
Yeah, I see a real push towards “Community policing” in my neighbourhood. In fact, there is a new community station less than a block from my appartment. I understand that prevention isn’t a quantifiable statistic, and that the bean counters love stats. What I am really interested in is if there is any truth to the “speeding ticket quota” that some (read: highway patrol)officers are supposed to have. I’m sure it’s just a rumor, but sometimes I wonder…
I applaud the efforts by many, not just police, to approach crime prevention in a proactive manner. I would just like to see that approach spread to all aspects of crime prevention (such as the much bally-hooed traffic violations). So often they just seem like a cash cow.
Well, for what it’s worth, they are not universally “cash cows.” In my jurisdiction, as in many, revenues from tickets issued are not tied to police department budgets; the revenue goes to the municipality coffers and the police department submits a budget just like every other department. In some cases, in fact, revenues don’t even go to the same place – ie, moving violations issued under state law as opposed to local municipal code result in revenues to the state general fund, not the municipality, regardless of who writes the ticket.
A police officer friend of mine, when asked by irritated motorists if there is a ticket quota, cheerfully replies “No; we can write as many as we want.”
Jodi
Fiat Justitia
I have paid a hefty fine (CA traffic violation fines are a pain in the rear, with court costs pumping the total up significantly). I made a stupid pass and got what I deserved for my impatience. Case closed, no whining.
I fully believe you have the right to defend yourself. When you think the police have done something wrong, feel free to do so. But when your fingers are in the pie and they catch you, smile and say, “well, at least it tastes good!”
A ticket is a summons. You can contest the charges, you can fail to appear, or you can pay and refuse to contest the charges. Funny, you have the same rights in all other criminal cases, just they usually arrest you to make sure you will appear. You do, you know, have the right to refuse to sign the ticket (whereupon the nice officer asks you to step out of the car and proceeds to make sure the issue will be heard with your attendance).
DS Young Esq-
I totally agree with you there. And if Kylen has a problem with being ticketed for a traffic violation that is just stupid. Easy way to fix that. Don’t break the law. If you are ticketed for 56 in a 55 thats a legit beef. But 56 in a 35?? Tough shit.
Phew Better now!
-Frankie
Lack of charisma can be fatal
In the UK you’re usually fairly safe with (e.g.) 32mph in a 30mph zone - radar speed guns have a margin of error varying between +/-5% and +/-10%, and the police don’t want to waste their time losing a case because of a margin of error.
Of course, that doesn’t stop them playing ‘motorway pool’ (the recently revealed game in which certain police forces play pool by stopping a red car, then a black, then a red, then…you get the picture).
I never touched him, ref, honest!