New Jersey cops say city officials implemented ticket quota to raise money during pandemic

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: USA Today

MORRISTOWN, N.J. – The Policemen's Benevolent Association of a New Jersey town is suing the local police department, claiming police officers have been forced to meet ticket quotas to generate extra revenue during the coronavirus pandemic.

In a lawsuit filed Monday, PBA Local 43 officers alleged that the Morristown Police Department enacted an "illegal ticket quota system" that was enforced by ordering officers to engage in late-night walking posts.

"These orders are not only illegal but admittedly 'unsafe' to both the members of PBA 43 but also the citizens of Morristown," read the lawsuit, filed in New Jersey Superior Court.

The PBA asked the court to shut down the alleged quota system and provide relief for any disciplinary actions against officers, prompted by the quotas, and reimbursement for attorney's fees.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/new-jersey-cops-say-city-officials-implemented-ticket-quota-to-raise-money-during-pandemic/ar-BB1bulku?li=BBnb7Kz

[greenjar_01]

1. Tough call, since I basically believe ZERO said by a PBA these days

[The Genealogist]

2. Ticket quotas are BS

Where I live, back in the 50s before my time, I have had several family members on both sides tell me that they used to hand out a big stack of tickets to officers and tell them that if they came back with any at the end of their shift not to bother coming in the next day. I hate crooked crap like that.

[tblue37]

3. What does "ordering officers to engage in late-night walking posts" mean, and how does it increase

the number of tickets issued?

[marble falls]

4. They use traffic law enforcement to raise city funds all the time ...

https://www.npr.org/2020/06/19/880754386/police-fines-fund-city-budgets-but-at-a-cost


Police Fines Fund City Budgets, But At A Cost

June 19, 20205:02 AM ET
Heard on Morning Edition

Stacey Vanek Smith
Cardiff Garcia 2017 square

Cardiff Garcia
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Transcript

NPR's daily economics podcast The Indicator from Planet Money investigates how the fees and fines that make up city budgets disproportionately target low-income communities and communities of color.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Many cities balance their budgets in part based on things that people do wrong. Cities use fees and fines from traffic stops, jaywalking, appearances in court. But the benefit for the city can come at a cost to society because fees and fines disproportionately target low-income communities and communities of color. Here is Stacey Vanek Smith and Cardiff Garcia from the NPR daily economics podcast The Indicator from Planet Money.

STACEY VANEK SMITH, BYLINE: Celeste Sawyer lives in Florida right near Orlando. Back in 2012, this one small moment started a big chain of events to unfold.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED NPR BROADCAST)

CELESTE SAWYER: My kids had just had a career day at school with a police officer. So when we were stopped at a light on our way home, one of my twins saw a police officer pull up next to us. So she takes off the top portion of her seat belt to roll down her window and scream, hi, Mr. Policeman. And then he pulls in front of me.

CARDIFF GARCIA, BYLINE: The officer said that Celeste's daughter was in violation of the seat belt law, and he issued her a ticket. And then he issued tickets for all of Celeste's children - more than a $1,000. So she went to traffic court to dispute the tickets.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED NPR BROADCAST)

SAWYER: The judge threw it out. They took away every seat belt ticket.

VANEK SMITH: But then she was told she did still owe some money. She owed court fees - $600 worth. And until she paid, her license was suspended.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED NPR BROADCAST)

SAWYER: I was making $10 an hour supporting five children. I don't have 600-odd something dollars.



It's a dirty fucking way for giving tax breaks to those who can afford them and putting the funding of cities on the backs of those who can't afford it.