Policing for profit is a big problem in our criminal justice system. Whether it’s traffic tickets or summary citations, the enforcement of many laws are in the interests of raising money instead of truly protecting the public. Although many policing agencies deny having a ticket quota, many have contact requirements. Whether proponents for static DUI checkpoints believe it or not, empirically one of the main, if not the main, side effect of DUI checkpoints is money generation in terms of equipment violations or other fines.
So could a congressional bill finally end “policing for a profit”? At least one Congressman hopes so.
Cleaver to introduce bill aimed at banning traffic citations, others, for revenue
WASHINGTON • U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Kansas City, said Monday he will introduce a bill in Congress outlawing criminal and traffic law enforcement activities that are “motivated by revenue-raising purposes.”
Cleaver said his “Fair Justice Act” will make it a civil rights violation, punishable by up to five years in jail, to enforce laws “solely to raise revenue.” It would give people the ability to seek redress under the Fifth and 14th Amendments and offer other protections against jurisdictions that use citations as revenue raisers.
In a scathing report last week on the practices of the Ferguson Police Department, the federal Department of Justice criticized the city’s police department and its court system for using traffic stops and other citations to help balance the city’s budget.
“Ferguson police officers from all ranks told us that revenue generation is stressed heavily within the police department, and that the message comes from city leadership,” the Justice Department report said. “The evidence we reviewed supports this perception.”
Justin McShane
PA DUI attorney Justin J. McShane is the President/CEO of The McShane Firm, LLC - Pennsylvania's top criminal law and DUI law firm. He is the highest rated DUI attorney in PA as rated by Avvo.com. Justin McShane is a double Board certified attorney. He is the first and so far the only Pennsylvania attorney to achieve American Bar Association recognized board certification in DUI defense from the National College for DUI Defense, Inc. He is also a Board Certified Criminal Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, a Pennsylvania Supreme Court Approved Agency.