Department Cites Shortage of Officers
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES - Police issued fewer traffic tickets over the last several years, raising concerns among city leaders about the resulting loss of revenue and lower traffic enforcement.
Between 1999 and 2003, the number of traffic violations cited by Los Angeles police dropped more than 23 percent, from 596,112 to 455,181.
As a result, the city’s treasury took in $17.3 million in traffic ticket fines in the 2001-02 fiscal year but expects to collect only $15 million this year. Accounting for inflation, the decline translates into a loss of about $3.5 million.
Because the city hasn’t supplied funds to hire additional officers, Police Chief William Bratton has scaled back traffic enforcement while focusing more attention on violent crimes, gangs and terrorism, police said.
“When you’re taking resources to fight crime, you’re robbing Peter to pay Paul, and obviously you’re going to see a decline in the number of traffic citations,” said traffic Sgt. Matthew MacWillie.
Councilman Bernard Parks, the former police chief, expressed concern that the department’s traffic enforcement was stretched thin and questioned the decision to put traffic officers in fields that didn’t match their specific training.
“When you see (fewer citations), there has to be a change in strategy, a change in emphasis,” Parks said. “We know for a fact that the primary impact on traffic conduct by the public is enforcement.”
Councilman Dennis Zine, meanwhile, was troubled by the city’s declining revenues from traffic tickets. The former traffic sergeant also worried the roadways were less safe.
“The simple presence (of officers) on a consistent level does increase compliance and driver safety,” he said.