LAPD officers sue department over traffic ticket quotas
LOS ANGELES-(BDCI)—Ten Los Angeles police department officers have filed a lawsuit against the city, stating they have been punished for not complying with illegal ticket quotas.
The officers in this action belong to the West Traffic Bureau. In April of this year, two other officers from the same bureau sued the LAPD over traffic ticket quotas and were awarded $2 million by the jury.
The 10 officers are claiming the same thing as their April predecessors stating that they have allegedly been penalized when ticket quotas are not achieved.
The lawsuit claims, “They were required to illegally fulfill a traffic citation quota. After complaining to superiors and others in the city of Los Angeles and/or refusing to adhere to orders concerning the illegal quotas, plaintiffs were harassed, retaliated against, and discriminated against by the defendants.”
They said they were punished by being given assignments they were not qualified for and by being denied overtime as well.
Some people are not shocked about how LAPD officers are treated by their superiors in this case.
“It does not surprise me that that’s the case, at all,” said mid-city resident Tanika Orange.
“The city is in trouble for money, so any way they probably can raise funds, it wouldn’t surprise me at all.”
Those who represent the city have another take.
Los Angeles city council member Dennis Zine, a former traffic officer, said, “There is a requirement…You do your job. You are not given a quota to write so many tickets, arrest so many drivers. But you go out there and do your job.”
Ticket quotas are considered illegal under California state law.
The LAPD has not made any further comments on the lawsuit, and their defense attorney is currently out of reach.
So far, all ten officers remain on duty, and their attorney could give no comment at this time.
Writer: Shayla Selva Edited by: Don Weinstein Source: ABC 7 News Los Angeles Photo by: KTLA Date: August 5, 2011
Time: 12:40 p.m. PDT