Ticket fixing
{{distinguish|Ticket quota}}
{{Update|date=September 2023}}
Ticket fixing is a practice in which a public official destroys or dismisses a pending traffic ticket as a favor to a friend or family member. For example, police officers in a number of jurisdictions have been charged with destroying pending tickets at the request of other officers. Some police unions laud and encourage ticket fixing, including the New York City Police Benevolent Association, which argues that ticket fixing is not criminal, but rather "long standing practice at all levels of the [New York Police Department]."{{Cite web |last=Pearson |first=Jake |date=2021-10-22 |title=A Union Scandal Landed Hundreds of NYPD Officers on a Secret Watchlist. That Hasn’t Stopped Some From Jeopardizing Cases. |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/a-union-scandal-landed-hundreds-of-nypd-officers-on-a-secret-watchlist-that-hasnt-stopped-some-from-jeopardizing-cases |website=ProPublica |language=en}}
Judges have also been accused of ticket fixing. Some police officers consider it a "professional courtesy" extended to friends and relatives of police officers. However, the practice is unpopular with the general public,{{cite web |url=http://www.dnainfo.com/20110512/manhattan/most-new-yorkers-say-they-wouldnt-try-fix-ticket-poll-finds |title=Most New Yorkers Say They Wouldn't Try to Fix a Ticket, Poll Finds |accessdate=2011-10-29 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403122806/http://www.dnainfo.com/20110512/manhattan/most-new-yorkers-say-they-wouldnt-try-fix-ticket-poll-finds |archivedate=2012-04-03 }} and is illegal in most jurisdictions.{{Cite news |date=2011-11-01 |title=Opinion {{!}} The Ticket-Fixing Scandal |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/01/opinion/the-nypds-ticket-fixing-scandal.html |access-date=2023-01-31 |issn=0362-4331}}
United States
Allegations of ticket fixing have cropped up for decades in jurisdictions around the United States, including Georgia, Alabama, New York City, and San Diego.
In 1986, officers of the Georgia State Patrol faced charges of ticket fixing.Ticket-fixing probe rocks Georgia. Henderdson Times-News. September 17, 1986. In 1999, an investigation revealed widespread ticket-fixing in Alabama.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PfghAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Zi8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6316,1734224 Traffic ticket-fixing alleged in Alabama] Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. October 7, 1999. In 2004, Santa Clara County judge William Danser faced charges of fixing tickets and reducing drunk driving sentences for "South Bay athletes, golfing buddies and friends of friends."{{Cite web | url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SAN-JOSE-Ticket-fixing-judge-sentenced-2704974.php | title=SAN JOSE / Ticket-fixing judge sentenced -- community service, house arrest| date=2004-07-27}}
On October 27, 2011, at least 11 New York police officers were charged with offenses related to ticket fixing.{{Cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/28/nyregion/16-officers-ordered-to-surrender-in-ticket-fixing.html | title=In Ticket-Fixing Scandal, 16 Officers to be Charged| newspaper=The New York Times| date=2011-10-27| last1=Rashbaum| first1=William K.| last2=Baker| first2=Al}}{{Cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/29/nyregion/officers-unleash-anger-at-ticket-fixing-arraignments-in-the-bronx.html?pagewanted=1 | title=Officers Unleash Anger at Ticket-Fixing Arraignments in the Bronx| newspaper=The New York Times| date=2011-10-28| last1=Kleinfield| first1=N. R.| last2=Eligon| first2=John}} Since then, New York prosecutors have maintained an unofficial list of police officers who are considered unreliable in court due to their involvement in ticket fixing. By 2021, there were 664 names on the list.
Three clerks in the San Francisco government faced ticket fixing accusations in 2012.{{Cite web | url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/S-F-untangling-a-skein-of-ticket-fixing-scams-3266398.php | title=S.F. Untangling a skein of ticket-fixing scams| date=2010-04-25}} Two police officers were charged with ticket fixing in Garden Grove, CA, in 2012.{{cite web |title=Archived |url=http://ggjournal.com/2012/06/07/two-police-charged-in-ticket-fixing-case/ |website=ggjournal.com |access-date=16 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414201532/http://ggjournal.com/2012/06/07/two-police-charged-in-ticket-fixing-case/ |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |language=en}}{{dl|date=May 2023}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://njmcdirect.page/ Traffic Ticket Payment Information]
- [https://i-win32diskimager.com/ Traffic Ticket Payment Information Guide]
- [https://denvertrafficlawyer.com/colorado-springs-traffic-attorney/ Colorado Springs Speeding Ticket Attorney]