Tickets Drop 40% in San Diego

http://www.fox6.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=E7C816F0-44E5-473E-BB43-582A810BC077

The San Diego Police Department wrote 40 percent fewer traffic tickets
this year, primarily because of a sharp drop in the number of officers
available for traffic enforcement duties.

Through November, police wrote 34,340 violations for speeding, running
red lights, illegal U-turns and other driving infractions, compared
with 56,900 during the same period last year.

The primary reason for the steep drop this year is that fewer officers
are working traffic enforcement.

Police have been diverted for training, court appearances, special
details and calls deemed to have a higher priority than traffic.

"We are spread thin," San Diego police Executive Assistant Chief
William Maheu said. "It shows in these citation numbers."

The trend will carry over into 2006 because department resources are
unlikely to change significantly.

The department has a budget for 2,102 officers, but just 1,763 officers
are available now, Maheu said.

The police department lost 31 officers this year to law-enforcement
agencies with better pay and benefit packages.

Police estimated that a 40 percent reduction in tickets could mean that
$2 million or more isn't going to the city's general fund.

The ticket decrease, however, doesn't appear to extend beyond San
Diego. The California Highway Patrol and the San Diego County Sheriff's
Department did not report similar declines.

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I'm surprised they don't mention the accident rates, which must have
gone up. Right? Or is there a reason to not include them? Maybe 2
million reasons?

Dave

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