Quote:
Originally Posted by extrashaky
Backing up for a minute:
I don't believe that for a second, because it doesn't make any sense. Some may not enjoy it, but I don't believe even those try to avoid it because they have very strong incentives to write those tickets. If a cop is set up in a speed trap out on the highway, writing tickets is why he's there. If he comes back with no tickets, I would suspect that a supervisor would be wondering what the hell he's doing out there all day. For that matter, I have been told point blank by more than one cop that they had quotas they were expected to meet, and it's not uncommon for governments to budget for ticket revenue before it's collected, regardless of legality. A cop is not going to try to avoid writing a ticket with such strong incentives to the contrary.
And I don't believe that most cops don't enjoy writing tickets. They selected a job where they get to bully people and get away with it. That kind of work is naturally going to attract bullies. It's no different from any other kid of work that attracts a particular type of person. Auto repair is going to attract people who like working on machines, even though there are some who aren't very good at it. Actuarial is going to attract people who prefer working with numbers, even though someone with an actual personality might sneak through. Police work is going to attract people who enjoy the feeling of power over others.
Furthermore, if a cop chooses to write a ticket just because he doesn't like the driver, that cop has no business carrying a badge and gun. He's there for law enforcement, not for I-don't-like-your-tone-so-fuck-you enforcement. I've personally witnessed numerous incidents where cops were assholes from the outset, with no provocation at all, yet we're all supposed to love cops and be nice to them. You reap what you sow.
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I don't even know where to start... Your perception of what cops are like and what they do is pretty messed up. I've been at work all day, I've given out 0 tickets, 3 warnings and at the risk of sounding insanely Canadian, I helped shovel someone's driveway. Sorry for being a bully.
There are three Police forces in my town and I have friends on all of them. No one has "incentives" to write tickets; only incentive to do you job and use your discretion. If that means handing out 20 tickets and no warnings in a day then that was your discretion. But no supervisor can give you crap because you gave out too many warnings (unless you literaly never write a ticket). You dont have to believe me but, MOST COPS DONT WANT TO WRITE THEM.. tickets mean paper work, tickets mean court dates and being away from family, losing days off, no cop wants that.
Some cops are bullies there's no denying that. But despite what you might think, and what the media tries to portray, most cops get into this line of work to do their part for the community (also cop cars are cool). If you spent some time doing this job you would know it's not about hunting down minorities and fr-s owners, most cops are just normal dudes. Things may be different in the USA but that doesnt change the fact that police forces are made up of normal people, not the monsters you seem to think they are.