A MAJOR US city has announced a controversial study that employs unarmed citizens to enforce minor crimes, dividing residents.
Other infrastructure changes will be made to curb dangerous driving.
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Los Angeles, California is known for its entertainment history, beautiful beaches, diverse tourist attractions, and Hollywood Boulevard.
However, it is also known for having some of the most dangerous roads in the world and a tense police department.
Shortly after the George Floyd incident in Minneapolis, Minnesota, several nonprofit organizations pressured city lawmakers to make major changes to the city’s strategies for solving crimes.
Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 2773 into law that prohibits police from asking drivers why they were stopped “to protect life or property from imminent threats,” the FOX affiliate reported. WTXL last year.
Advocates did not think this was enough.
Several leaders cited data from other major American cities, such as Berkeley, California, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that have passed laws prohibiting police from stopping drivers for certain reasons such as suspicion.
These cities have also reduced the need for minor traffic stops by implementing infrastructure changes to control dangerous drivers, such as roundabouts, speed bumps, and raised medians.
After years of making demands, the city council agreed to meet and discuss similar changes.
“I think the city of Los Angeles can lead the nation,” Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson told Los Angeles Times.
The meeting included a proposal to begin a study that would employ unarmed citizens to patrol the streets and enforce minor crimes instead of the police.
The study aims to determine the cost and refine the logistics of the approach to help limit police presence on issues such as crash investigations and fines in underserved communities.
These citizens would also reduce the need for traffic stops due to expired registration tags or items hanging from the rear view mirror.
Other officials, like Acting Chief Dominic Choi, remain skeptical of the study, saying traffic stops are a valuable way to deter crime when done properly.
“Our job is public safety, and we will use the tools given to us to the best of our ability to improve public safety,” Choi said.
“So if restrictions are placed on us, I will go to roll calls and talk about this policy change or this law and encourage our officers.”
When other changes are made to the city’s streets, police could be redirected to more serious crimes, councilors said.
Proper Conduct During a Traffic Stop
According to the ACLU, there are some tips to ensure a smooth traffic stop, regardless of the violation.
- Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from traffic as quickly as possible.
- Turn off the engine, roll down the windows and place your hands on the steering wheel. If it’s dark outside, turn on your interior lights to give the officer a good view. If you are in the passenger seat, keep your hands visible.
- Take your purse or wallet, registration and proof of insurance only when instructed to do so by law enforcement officers. Do not reach the glove compartment until asked to do so by the officer.
- Don’t make sudden movements. Narrate everything you are doing, i.e. “I’m getting my bag from the backseat.”
- Keep your tone calm and respectful.
Source: ACLU
California residents went public with their divided opinions in a publish of Law Enforcement Today announcing the study.
“This is a bad idea,” one user wrote.
Another concerned about the safety of unarmed citizens in dangerous areas of the city.
“Unarmed civilians do not have the authority to make a temporary arrest, such as a traffic stop,” they wrote.
“This will lead to innocent people being killed by the mob of scoundrels who don’t believe the laws apply to them.”
Another person cited how dangerous traffic stops are for police officers.
“The second most dangerous thing a police officer does is stop traffic,” they wrote.
“Responding to a domestic violence call is number one. California is crazy.”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
