Washington citizens have always been skeptical that law enforcement agents in-and-around the state have traffic citation quotas; essentially, that their bosses mandate a certain number of citations each month and/or year. Well to combat that view (and to improve the perception of law enforcement integrity) the state Senate recently passed a bill to prevent traffic ticket quotas in Washington State.
The bill was approved by a unanimous vote of 47-0. Next up – the state House of Representatives. With this new Bill, a law enforcement officer’s evaluation, his salary or his eligibility for promotion must not take into account the number of traffic infractions he has issued or even the amount of monetary penalties produced from the traffic tickets he has issued.
Other states such as Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Texas have passed similar laws prohibiting officers from being assigned traffic ticket quotas.
The Senate Bill, if approved by the state House of Representatives, would allow officers to use their own discretion and apply the level of enforcement action they believe to be appropriate for the situation; their superiors would not be permitted to define a specific quota for traffic citations – in turn, it is hoped, that officer integrity, to some degree, can be restored in the public eye. Confidence in our law enforcement is a positive thing and should be embraced. This new Bill aims at doing just that – encourage the public to ‘trust’ police.
Lest it be said, if you or a loved one is facing a traffic citation (DUI or otherwise), it is a very smart idea to immediately hire a qualified Seattle Criminal Defense Lawyer. The Seattle Criminal Defense Attorneys that make up the criminal defense team of SQ Attorneys are highly qualified and reputable Seattle Criminal Defense Attorneys that are dedicated to providing top notch, aggressive representation for those arrested or charged for crime all across Western Washington and the Greater Puget Sound region. The team creates success by working with law enforcement and the prosecuting attorney’s office to ensure that all facts and circumstances related to the allegations are considered in creating the fairest, most equitable and just resolution possible in light of all the surrounding circumstances of the given case. So, whether you are cited with an infraction or arrested and/or charged with misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor or a felony, protect yourself … call SQ Attorneys at (206) 441-0900.
