Discretion in Traffic Stops: The Influence of Budget Cuts on Traffic Citations

Abstract

AbstractIn traffic enforcement, officers have a broad range of discretionary power. They decide whether to initiate a stop. They also decide whether to write a ticket or to give a warning. Various factors affect officers' discretion, such as a driver's race, gender, and neighborhood characteristics. This study examines the influence of budget cuts to the sheriff's department on a county's traffic fines revenue. This study applies a difference‐in‐difference approach to analyze traffic citations issued by two groups of traffic enforcement officers—California's county sheriff deputies and California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers. Results show that deputies raised more traffic fines after their department experienced budget cuts in the previous years. In contrast, the number of tickets issued by CHP officers who do not receive financial benefits from the county government is not affected by a county's fiscal condition changes. This study provides evidence that traffic enforcement is under financial influence.