tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post3330294597803457272..comments2024-03-15T05:45:01.402-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Don't be surprised: Number of Texas traffic tickets decliningGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-78113927010593963832013-01-03T11:06:18.890-06:002013-01-03T11:06:18.890-06:00NTC writes: "There are some administrators an...NTC writes: "There are some administrators and traffic safety advocates who claim that traffic stops alone change driver behavior."<br /><br />I've often thought that may be the case but have never seen studies that tested the hypothesis. Just tried googling around on the subject and I found <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&ved=0CEQQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjacksonville.com%2Fnews%2Fcrime%2F2012-02-14%2Fstory%2Ffewer-tickets-more-warnings-jacksonville-traffic-deaths-drop&ei=-JnlUPP8LaOs2wXBtICYBQ&usg=AFQjCNFtm32-vH2f-AfO_w2OK1Tx2n3jHg&sig2=upbfeCz_tAqSuAmuXTbsmg" rel="nofollow">anecdotal evidence</a> but surprisingly no studies on point, at least that I could easily locate, vis a vis the effectiveness of warnings vs. tickets. I'm surprised, given the vast volumes of data that should exist on the topic.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-61781069825211831302013-01-03T09:43:01.814-06:002013-01-03T09:43:01.814-06:00Like so many other nonsensical comments Acevedo ma...Like so many other nonsensical comments Acevedo makes, this one is equally as illogical. Any reputable officer who has spent any time in law enforcement realizes that that ‘working’ traffic by issuing traffic tickets for running red lights, speeding, and other ‘legitimate’ violations of the Texas Traffic Code will alter bad driver behavior and save lives.<br />Yes, better medical triage, instant EMS transportation, and better built safety measures in vehicles absolutely keep folks alive, but police still play a critical part in public safety. A police ‘presence’ on the street is a deterrent not only to traffic offenses, but other criminal offenses. <br />Unfortunately, Austin is notorious throughout the State as a dangerous city to drive in because traffic control is nonexistent. A routine drive down Mopac around 3:00pm will show speeders driving faster than 80 mph, weaving in and out of traffic, and where are the police? None in sight! I wish I could count the times I have rolled up on a red light, only to have a driver race by me and bust the light. Again, no officer was in sight. <br />There are many good officers who understand the importance of stopping and talking to a driver who has just broken the law. The stop is immediate, and the results, long lasting. Does it really do any good to receive a ticket (which was generated by a traffic camera) in the mail? Of course, the receiver will usually or probably pay the ticket, but will it alter the driving behavior? Probably not! <br />Officers need to get out of their car and do actual police work instead of depending on traffic cameras to do the work for them. Traffic cameras are after the fact, and have they really ever saved a life?<br />I wish Acevedo would pay attention to the vehicle fatality problem in this city, instead of spending so much time posing for TV cameras. <br />Former Dallas Police Officer<br />Former TCLEOSE instructorAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-4257309793156400892013-01-03T07:33:33.470-06:002013-01-03T07:33:33.470-06:00Looking at traffic tickets alone doesn't give ...Looking at traffic tickets alone doesn't give you an accurate picture. You should also look at the number of traffic stops in which no enforcement was taken. In one of the cities you mentioned, I know for a fact that traffic contacts are nearly doubled from last year even as traffic tickets issued are down. Cops are giving far more written warnings than traffic citations. There are some administrators and traffic safety advocates who claim that traffic stops alone change driver behavior.North Texas Copnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1781852658438448362013-01-02T20:06:37.854-06:002013-01-02T20:06:37.854-06:00Just be thankful and count your blessings.Just be thankful and count your blessings.Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-82669710581010007972013-01-02T18:03:37.676-06:002013-01-02T18:03:37.676-06:00Tickets are written for money, period. Safety tal...Tickets are written for money, period. Safety talk is just BS to cover that fact and they know it.Robert Langhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16497658569363397644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-34431437066790784452013-01-02T10:00:27.520-06:002013-01-02T10:00:27.520-06:00One could either say traffic law compliance is lik...One could either say traffic law compliance is likely up during the trying financial times of the last few years or that officers have been (somewhat) more compassionate during the same financial trying times...who knows. <br /><br />Or officer calls of service continue to increase, thereby decreasing traffic enforcement time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-85856561862613989272013-01-02T09:40:34.722-06:002013-01-02T09:40:34.722-06:00It's simple. Cops know that traffic tickets e...It's simple. Cops know that traffic tickets equal revenue for the city. When they are unhappy with the administration, they play ticket games.<br />About 20 years ago, the Houston cops were unhappy with Mayor Kathy Whitmire. So, for about 6 months they wrote tickets for almost everything they could find. When she budgeted on that level of tickets, all of a sudden they couldn't find a traffic violation in Houston. And, the city had a budget crunch.<br />Funny how that happened.Tomnoreply@blogger.com