This document discusses ticket-fixing, which refers to corruption involving traffic citations. It notes that while traffic tickets serve purposes like revenue generation and public safety, corruption undermines those goals. The document explores different forms of ticket-fixing, including by law enforcement, court clerks, prosecutors and judges. It argues that ticket-fixing has costs beyond legal issues, impacting public perception, revenue, safety and lives.
This document discusses ticket-fixing, which refers to corruption involving traffic citations. It notes that while traffic tickets serve purposes like revenue generation and public safety, corruption undermines those goals. The document explores different forms of ticket-fixing, including by law enforcement, court clerks, prosecutors and judges. It argues that ticket-fixing has costs beyond legal issues, impacting public perception, revenue, safety and lives.
This document discusses ticket-fixing, which refers to corruption involving traffic citations. It notes that while traffic tickets serve purposes like revenue generation and public safety, corruption undermines those goals. The document explores different forms of ticket-fixing, including by law enforcement, court clerks, prosecutors and judges. It argues that ticket-fixing has costs beyond legal issues, impacting public perception, revenue, safety and lives.
This document discusses ticket-fixing, which refers to corruption involving traffic citations. It notes that while traffic tickets serve purposes like revenue generation and public safety, corruption undermines those goals. The document explores different forms of ticket-fixing, including by law enforcement, court clerks, prosecutors and judges. It argues that ticket-fixing has costs beyond legal issues, impacting public perception, revenue, safety and lives.
General Counsel & Director of Education Texas Municipal Courts Education Center AY 2010 QUESTION: WHAT DO THESE MEN HAVE IN COMMON? ANSWER: TICKETS LED TO THEIR ARREST “IN PRAISE OF TRAFFIC TICKETS” TOM VANDERBILT, SLATE.COM (8/29/09)
Traffic tickets have a “broad social
usefulness.” “It is a net for catching bigger fish.”
“They help keep people –drivers and
those outside of the car – alive.” DESPITE PUBLIC CLAMOR OF CRITICS (JAMES J. BAXTER, NMA PRESIDENT)
Traffic Tickets are NOT about Traffic
Safety Traffic Tickets are about Revenue Generation STUDIES: Traffic law enforcement and safety The Lancet, Volume 362, Issue 9386, 6 September 2003, Page 833
Transportation Alternative, Executive Order: A Mayoral Strategy for Traffic Safety (July 2009), Page 26 Contrast: FRANCE 43 Percent Reduction in Traffic Fatalitities through Enhanced Enforcment French Lessons: A Review of an Effective Road Safety Program ITE Journal (August 2009) Vol. 8. IN PRAISE OF TRAFFIC TICKETS
They are Convenient and Necessary HOWEVER, THERE IS A DOWNSIDE TO SUCH UTILITY “Here we encounter the general and longstanding reluctance in the United States to consider traffic violations to be „real crime‟” Tom Vanderbilt “‟Real crimes‟ result in arrest.” BUT IF THEY ARE NOT “CRIMES” WHAT ARE THEY? Traffic Offenses have been Described as: “Folk Crimes”
Traffic Law Violation: A Folk Crime
H. Laurence Ross Social Problems, Vol. 8, No. 3 (Winter, 1960- 1961), pp. 231-241 “FOLK CRIMES” Acts of “Everyday Deviance” Not Committed Exclusively by Pathological Rampage Serial Killers Often Done Negligently rather than Intentionally The time honored refrain: “Why are you busting people for dangerous driving when you could be going after murders? Stop wasting the tax payers limited resources.” HOWEVER Not Enforcing “Smaller” Quality of Life Issues Encourages Larger Transgressions. Wilson and Kelling, “Broken Windows” The Atlantic (March 1982). WHAT IS “TICKET-FIXING”?
A colloquialism used to describe a specific
form of corruption involving citations where a public servant engages in conduct intended to secure a benefit for oneself or another; a betrayal of public trust. THE LAW SHOULD APPLY TO EVERYONE EQUALLY
“Nothing destroys confidence in traffic
enforcement faster than ticket-fixing.” W. Cleon Skousen WHY CARE?
PUBLIC SAFETY
PUBLIC OPINION PUBLIC INTEGRITY TICKET-FIXING HAS MANY DIMENSIONS
MORAL
PRO LEGAL CRIMINAL OFFENSES • Bribery and Corrupt Acts • Perjury and Other Falsification Texas Law • Obstructing Governmental Operation • Abuse of Office
Federal Law •RICO Act
•Hobbs Act NOT EVERYTHING IS TICKET-FIXING
Does it Meet the
Definition? Is there Criminal Intent? Is there an Alternative and Legitimate Explanation ? WHEN DOES TICKET-FIXING OCCUR? WHO ARE THE INSTIGATORS?
External Internal Actors Actors INTERNAL ACTOR: LAW ENFORCEMENT CORRUPTION IN COURT CORRUPTION IN COURT CORRUPTION IN COURT INTERNAL ACTOR: COURT CLERKS/ADM. INTERNAL ACTOR: PROSECUTORS INTERNAL ACTOR: JUDGES TICKET-FIXING: CAUSE AND PREVENTION Awareness/ Education Action Accountability
Culture of Community Indifference Lack of Enforcement RECAP Ticket-fixing is: Unethical – Dishonorable; immoral Unprofessional - Not conforming to the standards of a profession Illegal – Prohibited by law. Preventable – Awareness, Education, Prevention Costly– In terms of public perception, revenue, public safety, and human lives. HUMAN COSTS TIME TO PACK IT UP.
Thanks To My Email Friend Billy Baer Wish He Was Related We Are More On The Same Page Than Me and My Family! Americans Are Being Prepared For Full Spectrum Tyranny
Thanks To My Email Friend Billy Baer Wish He Was Related We Are More On The Same Page Than Me and My Family! Americans Are Being Prepared For Full Spectrum Tyranny
