The Truth About Police Ticket Quotas: Myths and Realities

Commonly believed myths about police officers receiving bonuses for writing tickets often run rampant on the internet. However, the truth is quite different from what is commonly believed. In this article, we will explore the reality behind these myths, drawing from my personal experience as a traffic enforcer and traffic officer.

Myth vs Reality: Police Ticket Writing Incentives

Many people believe that police officers receive financial incentives for writing tickets. However, this is a misconception. According to my experience, a financial incentive for ticket writing does not exist. Instead, there are certain responsibilities and expectations for traffic enforcers and officers, but the actual number of tickets written varies.

For traffic officers and highway patrol officers, if they don't meet a certain quota of tickets written, they might face penalties such as deductions from their paychecks. However, this is not a universal practice, and the level of enforcement varies from one jurisdiction to another. Sometimes, the number of tickets written depends on the severity of the offense and the officer's discretion.

The Killeen, Texas Incident: A 45-Year-Old Scandal

One of the most notable incidents involving illegal ticket quotas occurred in Killeen, Texas, just outside Fort Hood in 1974. During an investigation, it was discovered that the town’s police force was making 300 of the town's annual operating budget from traffic and parking tickets written against soldiers and their families stationed at Fort Hood. Each officer was required to write a minimum of 15 tickets each month to avoid having money deducted from their paychecks.

When the scandal was uncovered, the entire police force was fired, and several officers went to prison. Some town officials were also jailed. However, it’s important to note that this was a significant case from over 45 years ago, and such blatant corruption is not as common today.

Modern Traffic Enforcement and Quotas

More recently, in California, a judge ruled that the Highway Patrol did have a de facto quota system, even though there were no official numeric quotas. Officers who consistently wrote fewer citations than their peers received lower performance ratings, which affected promotion opportunities and assignment choices. This ruling indicates that subtle mechanisms for enforcing quotas still exist in some jurisdictions.

Another anecdotal experience comes from when I was in college in a town called Waldo. This small town was infamous as a speed trap, with speed limits changing abruptly from 50 mph to 25 mph, and there were numerous hiding spots for radar guns. They had a quota system and officers drove fully-marked Cadillac Escalades to enforce it. The high ticket volume became such a problem that GPS and mapping services began to route people around Waldo. Eventually, the county intervened, fired the police chief, and hired the sheriff department to take over. The sheriff department was more reasonable and fair in their traffic enforcement practices.

Conclusion

While there are occasional instances of problematic ticket quotas, it is not a widespread or common practice. The reality is that the number of tickets a police officer writes can vary significantly based on the situation and the officer's judgment. Understanding the truth behind these myths can help everyone better appreciate the complexities involved in traffic enforcement and the efforts made to maintain traffic safety and fairness.