Citizens Fighting Back Against Speed Traps and Tickets
841,299
Published 2018-05-24
Law enforcement exists to protect and serve, not tax and spend. But things are different in the city of Doraville, Georgia, a 10,000 person suburb of Atlanta that has become notorious for its revenue-generating speed traps and housing code enforcement cases.
Each year, Doraville budgets between 17 and 30 percent of its overall expected revenue to come from fines and fees issued by its police officers and code inspectors. A 2015 Doraville newsletter bragged that “averaging nearly 15,000 cases and bringing in over $3 million annually,” Doraville’s court system “contributes heavily to the city’s bottom line.”
By putting fine revenue into its annual budget, Doraville creates a perverse incentive for police, prosecutors, and even its municipal court to police for profit, rather than seek justice and protect the health and safety of the city.
Drivers and homeowners know this perversion first hand. A report in a local newspaper found that Doraville issues tickets totaling more than $800 per resident annually, writing upwards of 40 tickets per day. Some residents have been threatened with probation or even jail time for simple code violations.
The Supreme Court has made it clear that it is unconstitutional for a justice system to be influenced by perverse incentives to raise municipal revenue. That’s why two Doraville homeowners and two Doraville drivers have partnered with the Institute for Justice to shut down Doraville’s unconstitutional practice of policing for profit.
www.ij.org/case/doraville-ticketing/
All Comments (21)
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A stack of firewood is not ugly, it’s not an eyesore. A stack of firewood is rustic beauty.
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The court house driveway has cracks, they should be fined as well.
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I’m surprised the city didn’t cite you for filming without a permit!
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welcome to the 21st century where you can't truly own your property.
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Fifty years ago, I and a girl friend drove past a country store, filling station and a couple houses. We were not in any hurry whatsoever. We were pulled over for speeding. I had reason to write a letter questioning some aspect of the ticket. The return letter had the names and titles of all the city officials. Four of five had the same last name!
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"A nation of sheep will soon have a Government of wolves." Edward R. Murrow.
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The next town over from me does this. Their cops have completely accepted the fact that they are simply highway robbers, and they excel at it.
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Al Capone, turns in his grave. He should have been in government.
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That's what we call organized crime at his best.😎
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I feel your pain.. Remember the old west when the bandits used to hold up stage coaches.. The same thing is going on today but now it's legal..
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The fact it was a criminal charge is just bizarre coming from someone that's worked in the justice field
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As a start get rid of the city officials and cut down the police force first to save money
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This is Piracy. The "judges and police" involved should be in jail. If the town legislators, clerks and mayor are also involved, they should go with them.
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Speed traps seldom have anything to do with public safety and everything to do with generating revenue.
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The city's finances and spending needs to be scrutinized.
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When you realize who owns your home and driveway.
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The government has gone out of control with their ways of taxing people
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Road Pirates! Here's an idea for Doraville. Reduce the number of people working in local government by 40%, police, code enforcement officers, etc., and then eliminate all the policing for profit, and you come out ahead on your local government's budget and your individual liberty.
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Ticket Writing = revenue, when high taxes is not enough.
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This type of government corruption needs to be called out at all levels
