Contact:  Darlene Schlicher (615) 741-6336 or email:  darlene.schlicher@legislature.state.tn.us

 (NASHVILLE, TN), April 28, 2010 -- Traffic ticket quotas would be prohibited in Tennessee under legislation sponsored by State Senator Tim Burchett (R-Knoxville) and approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.  The bill would prohibit law enforcement officers from being punished or rewarded due to the number of traffic citations issued or collected upon.

“Traffic enforcement should be about public safety, not adding more money to government coffers,” said Senator Tim Burchett.  “Ticket quotas are just wrong!”

The proposal, Senate Bill 2703, prohibits state agencies and local governments in Tennessee from establishing or maintaining, formally or informally, a plan to evaluate, promote, compensate or discipline a law enforcement officer based solely on the issuance of a predetermined or specified number of traffic citations.  The bill further prohibits them from requiring or suggesting to a low enforcement officer that the officer is required or expected to issue a predetermined or specified number of traffic citations within a specified period.

“Citizens should not have to be subjected to a ticket quota system,” added Burchett.  “This legislation just clarifies for state law that this practice is not legal in Tennessee.”