Police departments: Public safety or public revenue
 

Is it just me or does it seems like many cities are using their police depts as a way of gaining extra money for the city, by raising the price of tickets up to in some cases 80%. While traveling I'm observing police cars hiding in the woods, parked in the yards w/lights off all in attempt to catch minor traffic offenders, I know that w/federal & state budget cuts many cities are suffering the pinch. I however do not feel it's right to raise traffic tickets then set up speed traps and try to give out as many tickets as can be given out.... thus causing great pain on the common already underpaid citizens.

ITs a side effect of the war on drugs. There is more money available for law enforcement than ever before. Police forces are larger and much better. A state trooper in NJ after 5 years is making close to 100 thousand a year. And state troopers mostly do traffic.

This has created small municipalities with larger and highly paid police forces, but are in areas with very little crime compared to a city. So they use their people for traffic enforcement. And as you say, revenue accrual.

In some small towns they drive up and down the parking lots running the plates of all the cars on their lap-tops looking for expired registration or whatever. Because they have the personell but not the actual crime.

Its a shame on two fronts, one they milk the people of their money, and they also sour people on police because the people know that the police don't get tickets themselves lol.

In Baltimore, there have been an increase in the number 'red light cameras' even though it has been proven that they do not deter folks from running red lights AND that they are often incorrect. You get the ticket in the mail and either pay the $75 fine or go to court and most likely, the fine will be waived. Why bother???

And you still have to pay court costs . . . . but a lot of people will just pay versus sitting in court for hours and then paying half the fine anyway in fees. Its a nice money maker.

You don't pay court costs IF you are not found quilty of the citation.