Do traffic ticket quotas really are present?

(WHNT) — We’ve all been there – red lights flashing in the rearview mirror, gripping the steering wheel tightly, wondering if we’ll be able to talk our way out of a fine.

“ Received a quarter to meet, right, officer? ”

Police officers hear it all the time. But what used to be a running joke is now a reality that law enforcement agencies around the world face every day. Contrary to popular belief, speed traps aim to generate more revenue from residents rather than improve safety.

However, traffic tickets or “quotas” have actually been banned or prohibited in some states, with penalties imposed if such practices are enforced in other areas.

More than 20 states in the country, including Alabama, have made efforts to curb the practices that pressure police officers to meet “ticket quotas”:

Arkansas

Ohio

Connecticut

Arizona

Illinois

New Jersey

Louisiana

Michigan

Minnesota

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

New Jersey

New York

North Carolina

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Tennessee

Virginia

Wisconsin

According to the National Drivers Association, “a speed trap exists wherever traffic enforcement focuses on extracting revenue from drivers instead of improving safety,” especially in small communities.

However, the revenue from fines is not distributed as one might expect. In fact, law enforcement agencies receive very little from the issued tickets, with the majority of funds going to city and state coffers. Surprisingly, some of the money goes to the DNA Database Fund and the Criminal Victims Compensation Fund. Keep in mind that each organization, municipality, and state may have different practices, so you can request a breakdown from your local clerk’s office for more information.

Regarding the Tennessee Valley region, here’s what local agencies confirmed to News 19 regarding the controversial topic:

ALABAMA

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) Trooper Brandon Bailey:

“You know, we work these crashes and see the result of not wearing a seatbelt or speeding, etc. And we take it personally. These accidents are entirely preventable, that’s why we’re so diligent in stopping drivers, it’s about care and prevention.”

Colbert County

“We don’t have any quotas on tickets/warnings or arrests,” said Tuscumbia Police Dept. Chief Tony Logan. “The only thing we ask, not require, is that our officers try to have two contacts per 12-hour shift aside from dispatched calls. That can be a walk-through at any of the schools/daycares in Tuscumbia. It can be just talking to a business owner/operator, a resident outside working in their yard, or someone walking at the track for exercise. The main goal is to further enhance our relationship with the community.”

DeKalb County

“We don’t have quotas at [the] Rainsville Police Department,” said Rainsville Assistant Police Chief Heath Crum. “However, Traffic Enforcement is a necessity. We have one of the busiest intersections in the county (AL75 and AL35) where thousands of vehicles pass [through] daily. Our officers do a great job of enforcing traffic laws, but Rainsville really doesn’t write that many tickets. Most violations are corrected through education and instruction. Often, you can see a direct correlation between traffic accidents and decreased Traffic Enforcement, meaning less enforcement [and] more accidents.”

Franklin County

“The Sheriff’s office has no policy (expressed, written, or implied) telling deputies that they must write tickets on traffic stops,” replied Sgt. Kyle Palmer with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. “We do not require deputies to write any specific number of tickets, nor do we have a quota on speeding or any other traffic infractions.”

Russellville Police Chief Philip Hargett:

“We do not have any quotas, but traffic enforcement is part of our jobs,” explained Hargett. “We do expect officers to enforce traffic law during their daily duties, but we don’t make them do a certain amount. We also participate in the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program, which is a grant from the state. When officers work this grant, traffic is the primary focus. We still do not have a quota as far as writing tickets. They just have to show they are enforcing the traffic laws, which can be written citations, warnings, or verbal warnings.”

Jackson County

“We don’t have a quota,” said Jackson County Sheriff Chuck Phillips. “We really don’t write a lot of tickets. It’s hard to work traffic because we have so many court papers to serve and warrants.”

“It is entirely deputy discretion,” added Rocky Harnen with the Sheriff’s Office. “Based on severity, location (school zones), and the attitude of the driver.”

Lauderdale County

“Our ticket quota is right in line with the donut shop. Every ticket, we get a donut,” Lauderdale County Sheriff Paul Hamilton joked. “Actually, we do not have a quota on tickets, and it is my understanding that having such a quota is illegal.”

Florence

“We don’t have a quota. It’s basically, ‘if you’re nice to us, we’re nice to you,'” said Florence Police Department’s Officer Chad Breedwell. “If we’re pulling you over for something blatant, you’re likely to get a ticket. But if it’s something minor, then it’s more of a contact-driven situation. Treat us nicely, and we’ll do the same.”

Lawrence County

“We don’t have a quota,” said Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Brian Covington.

Limestone County

“No, we don’t have ticket quotas,” said Limestone County Sheriff Joshua McLaughlin. “I’ve often heard this myth too, but in my 20-plus years, I have never met an agency that has one.”

Madison

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office compiled their data from last year and provided information on all traffic stops conducted by their deputies:

(Madison Co. Sheriff’s Office)

“The Huntsville Police Department has no quota when it comes to traffic citations,” added Sgt. Rosalind Light. “Our enforcement of traffic violations is to educate the public on roadway safety and reduce traffic crashes in areas that have had a relatively high number of traffic accidents. Based on statistical data, we take a proactive approach to traffic enforcement measures in major accident areas. This is often achieved through high-visibility saturation patrols or high-volume traffic stops in targeted areas.”

Marshall

“No ma’am, we do not have a ticket quota,” said Chief Deputy Willie Orr with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office. “There is a great deal of discretion in law enforcement, and, when possible, we allow our deputies to decide whether or not to take enforcement action.”

“Some of the common concerns we hear from citizens involve traffic violations,” said Albertville Assistant Police Chief John Amos. “Our Patrol Officers work hard to address those concerns by conducting traffic enforcement – in addition to the many other duties they have. Our Department does encourage Officers to enforce traffic laws in an effort to promote overall safety on the roads. With that said, our Department does not have a ‘quota’ regarding the number of traffic citations our Officers must issue. Officers have discretion whether to issue a Citation or a Written Warning for traffic violations they encounter.”

Morgan

“No ma’am, we do not have ticket quotas for speeding,” said Priceville Police Chief Jerry Holmes. “Highway 67 [which] runs through our jurisdiction is a dangerous stretch of road. The speed limit on Highway 67 within the city limits is 55 mph. We have learned that if we do not monitor that aggressively, speeders get upwards of 70-80 mph without thinking about it, which contributes to traffic accidents. Trust me, it’s all about safety and saving lives.”

“We do not have quotas,” stated the Decatur Police Department.

Tennessee (TN)

Lincoln County

Fayetteville

“The Fayetteville Police Department does not have a quota,” said Administrative Chief Coby Templeton. “We like to see our officers proactive with traffic stops, especially in certain areas of concern. We receive complaints throughout the week regarding speeders, loud music, vehicle direction violations, or other traffic offenses in various parts of town. We try to patrol these areas aggressively.”

“We are a smaller police department, and our officers must be well-rounded. We do not have the luxury of specialized units. Traffic enforcement is but one of their many duties. While traffic control is integral to their work, we want to keep sight of the big picture. It can be a balancing act. We understand that a heavy presence may inhibit the criminal mind, but we do not want to appear heavy-handed.”

“We aim to correct negative behavior in individuals. We understand that not everyone needs a citation. We acknowledge that people make mistakes. We encourage our officers to correct minor infractions at a minimum. Minor infractions may warrant a verbal or written warning. There are instances when the violation is egregious and requires legal action. If the officer perceives, by the individual’s response, that they are not going to change, it may be appropriate to summons the person to court and allow a judge to decide the best course of action.”

“There is also the issue of policing for profit. The police department is not a revenue-generating entity. Certain ethical questions and implications are raised with this action. Implementing a quota may seem to blur that line. Our goal should be to promote public welfare, peace, and safety.”

In conclusion, the information provided by local law enforcement agencies suggests that many of them do not have traffic ticket quotas. The emphasis seems to be more on promoting safety, educating the public, and maintaining good relationships with the community rather than meeting a specific quota. However, it’s important to note that practices may vary between different agencies, and it’s always a good idea to follow traffic laws and drive safely to avoid any potential issues.