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New York police officers issue more traffic tickets than almost anywhere else in the country. At just about four million each year, that’s enough for every third driver to get a ticket. To make matters worse, there are over a thousand ways to get a traffic ticket in New York. And don’t get us started on parking tickets!
With the state issuing so many traffic tickets, many people have started wondering, “Does New York have a traffic ticket quota?” The official answer is no, but the real answer is much more complicated than that.
What Are Ticket Quotas?
Traffic ticket quotas require police officers to issue a certain number of tickets in a certain time period. Usually, that quota stretches for a month at a time before resetting. These quotas can be reinforced by rewards for cops who go over or punishments for cops who go under.
This kind of incredible pressure has been shown to cause some police officers to write tickets when warnings would have otherwise been perfectly acceptable. That means more tickets flooding the courts and less money in your wallet.
Section 215-A of the New York Consolidated Labor Laws defines quotas in three ways. Here’s the first definition:
Quotas regarding traffic tickets:
“Tickets of summonses for violations of law for which a ticket or summons is authorized by any general, special or local law, which are required to be made within a specified period or time.”
Quotas regarding arrests:
“Arrests made for violations of provisions of law for which such arrest is authorized by any general, special or local law, which are required to be made within a specified period of time.”
Quotas regarding traffic or street stops:
“Stops of individuals suspected of criminal activity within a specified period of time.”
Are Ticket Quotas Illegal in New York?
Traffic ticket quotas have been illegal for more than 13 years. In 2008, the state government signed into action a new law that further clarifies what’s legal and what’s not (Senate Bill S2956A). This law and those that came before it combine to wholly outlaw the practice of discriminating against police officers who don’t adhere to quota requirements.
There are plenty of regulations on the books that make quotas unenforceable or otherwise legally pointless. However, there are no laws in New York explicitly banning the practice of setting quotas.
For example, police chiefs may set standards to maintain “station averages” and can punish lower-performing officers according to the standards. But they can’t call them quotas and can’t punish police officers for failing to issue tickets, make arrests, or stop people related to those desired averages.
If this sounds like a case of blurred lines to you, that’s because it is.
Does the NYPD Have Quotas for Tickets?
Leaders of the New York Police Department have gone to great lengths to prove that the department no longer uses quotas. However, whistleblowers have been speaking out against the department’s continued use of quotas for more than ten years after the initial uproar against quotas.
According to The Appeal, these quotas now come in the form of “performance standards.” Failure to meet these standards can result in being seen as an under-performer.
What the Department Has Done to Reform This Practice
The NYPD’s chief of police has gone so far as to say, “Supervisory personnel who use quotas or encourage or reward numbers for the sake of numbers may be subject to department discipline.”
FAQs About NYC Ticket Quotas
Despite the police chief’s claims that the NYPD “does not adhere to a quota system,” there are plenty of whistleblowers who disagree. This information is likely to continue raising questions of departmental policies. If you’re still looking for answers, here are a few frequently asked questions about traffic ticket quotas.
Do Cops Get Bonuses for Tickets?
The state’s official answer to this question is no. And that’s true. Police officers don’t get paid extra for writing more tickets. However, there are a few things brewing beneath the surface.
Police officers may not get bonuses for writing tickets, but they may be seen as higher-performing officers. And higher-performing officers may get bonuses for performing higher. These could be considered indirect bonuses.
Even more, police officers who write traffic tickets are required to go to court whenever somebody contests those tickets. These court visits can be a major source of overtime pay for cops, whether the ticket is upheld or not.
What Should I Do If I Believe I Got a Quota Ticket?
The first thing you should do is download the WinIt app. WinIt will help connect you with a lawyer who can help you beat your quota ticket. If you believe that you were issued a ticket with no justification other than to meet a departmental quota, you may be able to have the ticket dismissed.
You may also be eligible to sue the police department for issuing tickets without proper justification. This might sound far-fetched, but it has happened countless times. In fact, in 2017, New York City had to shell out around $75 million to settle a class action lawsuit against quota-chasing police officers.
How Do I Make a Complaint Against an Officer That I Believe Is Using the Quota System?
Making a complaint against members of the NYPD is a simple thing to do. Go to the Civilian Complaint Review Board’s website for all the information you might need. You can contact them over the phone, file a complaint online, or write a letter, or walk down to a police station.
It is recommended that you do not try to file a complaint against a police officer at a police station. Filing a complaint online is easier and makes your complaint more likely to be reviewed.
