A ticket or a warning - how do you decide?

[Mr. Security]

For minor traffic violations, what do you consider when deciding whether to issue an infraction, written warning, or just a verbal? (for example: attitude, prior infractions, beginning/end of shift, number of infractions pending in court, etc.) Which of the prior examples are more important in determining your decision? Also, at what point do you make your decision? As soon as you initiate the stop or after talking with the driver?

[Tennsix]

I generally consider type of violation, driving history, attitude, if there was a crash. I usually have an idea of whether or not I am going to issue a ticket by the time I get his DL/reg. If I am working on grant time, everyone gets a ticket.

Every stop is different and I can not say I have a

[edg103]

Every stop is different. Minor infractions (headlight out/LP light out/etc.):generally gets a warning unless they give a really crappy attitude.....Sign here please, sir/ma'am :D

[jakflak]

My critieria are:

- Prior warnings. We track that; if they got a warning on that headlight a week ago they're getting a ticket today.
- Attitude. If they cuss me out, I have no reason to believe they're going to fix the problem. "I wasn't speeding you idiot!" means they're not going to change what they did wrong.
- Seriousness. If someone is doing 55 in a 25 nothing else matters. They'll at least get a ticket. Possibly arrested.

[Dudley DoRight]

I have never written tickets for every charge that I observed on a stop. Saying that...people have a habit of taking themselves into trouble. I have had some that I stopped for warnings that eneded up getting a ticket because their attitude showed that they completely resisted any responsibility for their behaviour.

Our tickets have space for 3 charges on each ticket. Some folks get a home run (3 charges)...and even then...get a break. After 25 years I have yet to figure out why folks who are cussin' you out at the top of their lungs, expect to get a break from the guy they are swearing at? You want a warning.?..."warning...yer gettin a ticket and here it comes"!!!

[lazycop]

I depends on if its the beginning or end of the month. :)

[JHoek]

I depends on if its the beginning or end of the month. :)
Gotta get that toaster-oven :D

[hemicop]

Ther's too many variablesto give a definite answer. Most LEOs will consider type of infraction,location,attitude, time of day (& month),subj's. background(crim.history or just traffic vio.?), as well as who they're working for. I think you can see that with some many variables the argument that ALL cops profile ALL the time (yes,I've heard that :eek: ) really can't hold true.

[backinblue]

I have a general idea of who's getting a ticket and who's getting a warning before I even approach the car. I like to be consistent, but there are some factors that may change my mind ie. driving record, attitude, time of day etc. My rules for speeding are 10-15 over warning 15+ ticket. If I stop someone for lets say 17 over and they're attitude is good and driving record is good I'll give them a break on their citation (lower the charge, no points, smaller fine). Anything double the speed limit or more = reckless driving + speeding ticket which is a huge fine and many points. :D

[lazycop]

Gotta get that toaster-oven :D

Hell yeah. And make sure at least one person shows up on my court date so I get my 6 hrs.

[DeputyGirl233]

#1 attitude:
Accept the consquences if you get pulled over. Or if you curse at me on foreign language, (those people who tend to do this approach tend to be Serbo-Croatians).

#2 driving history: poor driving history.
If person whom I've pulled over has received more than three citations or is habitual offender (constant warnings, citations etc) receives ticket.

#3 reason for initiated TS (traffic stop):
If it's 10 over yes ticket is issued, busted tail light (depends), running red light (ticket) etc. If it's car accident of course ticket and possibly arrest.

#4 my favorite B.S. Excuses:
"Oh I'm in hurry to get there for such and such reason." Should have left the house early instead of running late. Or crying in front of me. Please spare me of tears and B.S. excuses, considering if roles were revised that same person would give me ticket.

[Rally]

................

[Rally]

Our tickets have space for 3 charges on each ticket. Some folks get a home run (3 charges)...and even then...get a break. After 25 years I have yet to figure out why folks who are cussin' you out at the top of their lungs, expect to get a break from the guy they are swearing at? You want a warning.?..."warning...yer gettin a ticket and here it comes"!!!


You guys need citation continuation forms. It's a ticket with nothing but empty lines for more violations. They are a "page two" of the ticket. You can use several forms. In theory you have an infinite amount of violations you can list. I have only used it once. The guy totally deserved every violation I gave him too. I think I listed 6 or 7 violations.

[keith758]

I have a set speed, and if you go over it, you get a ticket. That way I don't have to justify why "Joe Dirtbag" got a ticket for 70 in a 55, and "Grandma Smith" didn't. I will take into consideration their driving record and if it's appropriate I'll make it a lessor violation. If you cuss at me or show me an attitude, you'll get a ticket for sure, and the only break you'll get is if you can convince the court you deserve one.

Our citations suck, as there is only room for one charge on each citation. If you want to cite for more than one thing, you have to issue separate citations.

[Dudley DoRight]

Rally...I just go to a second 3 slot ticket...have only done that a couple of times. Guys who get them have a major attitude and ability problem and bad history. I find that, almost without exception, the hard-core crims I deal with never contest a ticket...and they get NO breaks at all. My traffic fines end up costing them way more than criminal convictions.

[DaveNT]

ATTITUDE, that the big one for me for minor violations, then followed by any known history on the offender.

[Bigg Dogg]

Attitude and history and the offencse of course.

[Pedro56]

It all depends on attitude, or if I see/smell something in plain view, i.e. pistola weed, rocks, etc.

[USAcop]

1)big city cop no ticket unless its a traffic unit or flagrant violation. Too busy shagging calls.
2)Busy county no ticket unless its a traffic unit or a flagrant violation. Too busy shagging calls.
3)Smaller and medium sized counties and cities watch out! The officers and Deputies have much more free time available to stop cars.
4)Any traffic unit you will almost always get a ticket.
5)troopers usually.
6)fish and game, wildlife and parks write lots of tickets.

[HardBall]

1- Severity of the offense
2- Drivers attitude
3- what else is going on at the time (something more important to do?)
4- Will the negative outweigh the positive? (will this enforcement cause a greater problem rather than solve a smaller one)

DOn't use driver's history- alot of drivers were troublesome at ages 17-21..then they get married, have a kid, get a job.. Try to get ahead...You shouldn't hold a 24 year old responsible for what he did when he was 20 yrs old.

[tbear853]

Depends on many things. Generally, I know when leather meets blacktop, but not always. Traffic conditions, roadway, nature of violation, weather ... all play a part in it.

Attitude is sometimes a consideration, but not always ... though a negative attitude never helps, just as a posative attitude doesn't always guarantee a warning.

If it is a stop for something that I am considering maybe a warning, I keep that to myself as I go through my opening spiel.

I only consider prior history if it's part of the charge contemplated, like a second or subsequent DUI or suspended charge, etc. To consider prior traffic history ... or to give it a lot of weight in most minor traffic infractions is much akin to "debtor's prison", and it simply isn't my style.

If all else is looking good and a warning is maybe in the cards, one sure way to mess it up is to ask me for a break. Too many people out there that will trust me and my experience and training to make that decision (people who will accept my decision and take it in stride) for me to encourage any help from a violator. When I give a warning, it's going to be my idea, and usually a pleasant surprise for the violator who has had "his feet taken to the fire". When they ask for a break, they are trying to tell me that I probably need help in making that decision ... allowing them or encouraging them only serves to make life rougher on my fellow officer I think.

[Bigg Dogg]

DOn't use driver's history- alot of drivers were troublesome at ages 17-21..then they get married, have a kid, get a job.. Try to get ahead...You shouldn't hold a 24 year old responsible for what he did when he was 20 yrs old.

But in this scenario he is doing a major traffic violation.Even if he is 24 married and got kids and a lengthy record from the age of 16-20,that shows he must not have learned his lesson the other times because he is still doing it.I would definantly have to take his record into consideration.
Now if the guy was 40 and hadn't had a ticjket since he was 20,now that would be a little different.4 years is not along time.And having a wife and a kid does not automatically mature them.

[tbear853]

Ummmm, Dogg .... you read it wrong I think.
For minor traffic violations, what do you consider ... etc ...



Later ........... :)

[Bigg Dogg]

Ummmm, Dogg .... you read it wrong I think.




Later ........... :)


OOPS!!Sure did.I got side tracked onto thinking about another thread!!LOL!!Darn Old Timers disease!!!Still the same answer though.

[SS396]

If you get pulled over by Highway Patrol whether it be State, County or City expect a ticket... The Highway guys are out there to enforce the V&T laws.... Now, your attitude still helps a lot.... If I'm heading in to go end of tour and you make me stop you, if you're a moron the car's going to be late for the next cop if you have a decent attitude you can expect to be on your way in a matter of seconds.... I ticketed everyone equally, old or young.... Except those fart canned imports, the muffler is illegal and it drows out my radio so they got many more, loud pipes don't save lives either and I was on a motorcycle when I wanted...

[Blue03]

Attitude and excuses are top considerations for me.

"I didn't know I was going that fast" Then why did you hit your brakes when you saw me?

"I didn't see the sign that the speed changed" If you can't see the signs then you shouldn't be driving

"I'm late" You should have left earlier!!

and my favorite:
"I was going down that hill and my car sped up" Use that other petal next to the gas moron!!!!

The best way to get out of a ticket with me is to be honest, admit that you know you were wrong (if I tell you that you were going 65, then you were, don't argue), and appolagize for the infraction. If you're less than 15 over, I'll probably give you a warning.

I only consider prior offenses if it's within the last 12 months.

I'm one of those in the small town with lots of extra time, so watch out!!

[RBrodowski]

1. Attitude - I've let running stop signs go if they didn't blatantly run it and they had a good attitude
2. Severity of offense - Stop sign again...got a kid who didn't even slow down and went through a stop sign at 35-40mph. He lived right around the corner so he knew it was there.
3. Crying - definate ticket :)

[jerrymaccauley]

Warning? That sign with the speed limit posted....

[explorerscout83]

Attitude and excuses are top considerations for me.

"I didn't know I was going that fast" Then why did you hit your brakes when you saw me?

"I didn't see the sign that the speed changed" If you can't see the signs then you shouldn't be driving

"I'm late" You should have left earlier!!

and my favorite:
"I was going down that hill and my car sped up" Use that other petal next to the gas moron!!!!

The best way to get out of a ticket with me is to be honest, admit that you know you were wrong (if I tell you that you were going 65, then you were, don't argue), and appolagize for the infraction. If you're less than 15 over, I'll probably give you a warning.

I only consider prior offenses if it's within the last 12 months.

I'm one of those in the small town with lots of extra time, so watch out!!

I have several factors in deciding if you get a ticket or a warning.

1. Attitude, if you are being an @$$ then you are going to get a ticket.
2. Honesty, if you tell me that you where not speeding, then I am going to give you a ticket. I check my radar prior to the start of shift and I then check it after every traffic stop so I know it is working properly.
3. Asking for a warning, if you ask me for a warning or a break of any kind I am going to give you a ticket.
4. What is the offense, if I stop you for going 10 over and you have a good attitude and are honest I will give you a verbal waring. If you want to give me attitude then get ready and then press hard there are 4 copies. If I stop you for head light out tail light out fail to signal fail to maintain lane of traffic, and you have a good attitude then I will give you a verbal warning. If I stop you for 15 over and you are not an @$$ about it I will mark the ticket down to a 40 in a 30 zone. If I stop you for going 20 miles per hour or any thing over you get a ticket for the full amount no question asked.

5. What is the weather like, if it is snowing or raining and I have to get out of my car because you are a dip $hit you will get a ticket no matter what, and if you roll your window down a couple of inches to give me your DL registration and insurance I will make you get out of your car when I give you a ticket.

I had a person the other night, I stop him at 0200 hours for going 42 in posted 30 zone. I make contact with him and tell him why I stopped him, he says "I was not going that fast I was going 30." I then have to stand there for 5 minutes as he gets his D.L. out of his wallet, it was under one of those little plastic windows and it was stuck. I issue a ticket for going 42 in a 30 zone. I go back explain the ticket to him and ask what he wants to do. He says he needs to think about it. So now I get to stand there on the side of the road wind blowing at about 15 miles per hour and the temperature was about 36. I tell him he needs to make a decision or I am going to make it for him. He says he will pay the fine but wants me to put on there that he is not guilty of the crime charged. I tell him that I am not going to write it on there and if he would like to fight the ticket he can come back to court. He says he is not going to come back for court. I check the penalty assessment box and fill in the fine. He says he is not going to sign it until I put on there that he is going to pay it but he is not guilty. I tell him that I am not going to write it on there, and he is not going to write it either, and if he is not going to sign it I will arrest him. He signs the ticket and is on his way.

I sure wish we could write more then one offense per ticket. One driver I stopped I had to issue 4 tickets to.

I also work for a small town and have a lot of time on my hands to run traffic.

Sorry for the long post

[airbrne74]

Rock, Paper, Scissors! :D

Attitude!! Don't act like an a**hole or a know it all and you'll be fine. Oh and BTW don't tell me how to do my job!

[Delta784]

As long as the infraction isn't outrageous, and the operator isn't a ******bag, they get a written warning. My PD counts written warnings the same as civil infractions, so that keeps the brass happy.

[t150vsuptpr]

Sometimes, I give serious thought to what the person's attitude is.

Sometimes, I give very careful consideration to weather and traffic conditions.

Sometimes, I give the most careful of all considerations to what danger was presented to others.

Sometimes, I think upon past stops and what I did with those drivers in the same or similar circumstances.

Sometimes, I just write the thing and go get another one.

[SO535]

I ask my Magic 8-Ball. :D

[JLFINFAN]

(if I tell you that you were going 65, then you were, don't argue),

I pulled a lady over one time for no taillights. She was a little gruff, but I felt like she was being honest when she said she did not know. I wrote her a warning, as I usually do with defective equipment.

When I went back to give her the warning, she became rude and belligerant. I tried to politely explain to her that I was just giving her a warning, and that there was no need to argue.

"I'm not arguing! I'm just sick and tired of you guys always picking on me. I did nothing wrong! Yadda, yadda, yadda....."

So I told her I'd be right back with her. I went back and wrote her a citation. When I came back, she was incensed!

"I thought you were just giving me a warning!?!!?"

"Ma'am, I'm not going to stand here on the highway and argue with you. Since you want to argue, you can do it in court where I won't be in danger of being hit by a drunk driver. Sign here!"

[Trinium]

1. Severity of offense.
You could have the best attitude in the world...it wont get you out of a citation with me if you are going 30 over. It wont get you out of a cite if your baby is just lying on the backseat with no childseat and not even a seatbelt. :mad:

2. Attitude
I dont care if you are obnoxious to me...I accept this as anything else that goes with the job. BUT if you have attitude with me you are demonstrating a lack of accountability for your criminal offense...albeit just an infraction. Therefore, as an LEO, I feel implored to issue you a cite and I will.

[Mr. Security]

Thanks to everyone who took the time to respond. Apparently, attitude and the type of offense are the weightier matters in making the decision. Again thanks! :)

[AnGardaSiochana]

I usually let them off after 10 minutes of giving out but it depends on the offence. If the tax is out a month or less I just warn them. 2 Months they get a ticket. 3 months or over and its down to them, an ******* with no excuse is losing the car but a decent guy thats honest can drive home. An example being an older guy with 2 or 3 kids in the back and its December, now he admits its out but hey, its Christmas and cash gets tight around that time so Im not going to come down on him.

No inusrance and that cars getting towed, no excuses.

Everything else really comes down to attitude and excuse. I dont deal with speeding.