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REGULAR MEETING MAY 29, 2012 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Councilmember Oliver Davis stated that with the amount of tickets being written that this was a <br />policy for a period of time. He questioned that it is a relatively high number that is going on in <br />terms of traffic tickets right and there have been more complaints that people are just being <br />stopped in order to get a quota because of what was stated by the Chief that he is making at least <br />everybody give one ticket per day and that didn’t seem to come across right to a lot of people. <br />He stated that it’s a little disconcerting when the Chief says that he is going to make sure that <br />everybody gets a ticket. He stated that a part of that was again addressing the homicide issue. <br />Councilmember Oliver Davis stated that he has never seen where addressing speed tickets <br />decreases homicide. <br /> <br />Mayor Buttigieg advised that the idea is part of what is known as the “broken window” theory. <br />The idea is that its part of how you keep a community safe when it comes to major crimes is to <br />make sure that minor violations are also being enforced. He indicated as in the prior Council <br />Meeting that if there is any sense or particular case or any evidence that this in anyway is being <br />enforced unfairly he would like to be notified of that right away. <br /> <br />Councilmember Oliver Davis stated in regard to that issue besides the broken window theory <br />which is a good theory also is there any data that states that higher increase of tickets reduces <br />homicide besides just the broken window theory is there any data? <br /> <br />Mayor Buttigieg believes that the “broken window” theory is backed by data. He stated that he <br />is not deeply familiar with the literature. He stated that he would be happy to ask the police <br />department for any relevant research reports that might show that. <br /> <br />Councilmember Oliver Davis stated that he would love to have that. <br /> <br />Councilmember Scott stated that he agrees with Councilmember Oliver Davis that tickets should <br />not be unfair, but can say come on over to Portage Avenue, he would be glad to see officers <br />running Portage Avenue and ticketing people. He stated that he lives at Forest and Portage <br />Avenue and sees people pass cars there, fifty, sixty miles an hour is nothing there. He stated that <br />st <br />he has had a lot of comments of that in the 1 District, where speed is just out of control. He <br />reiterated that he doesn’t want it to be unfair, but is glad to see that it is being done and raising <br />the bar. <br /> <br />Councilmember Henry Davis stated that this is just an idea and wasn’t sure if there would be any <br />results with this, but would calling the highway department and letting them know on their <br />reports that the highway that bridge is closed. It would stop a lot of those trucks from coming in <br />and turning around or going over and being ticketed because for what ever reason crossing the <br />bridge. He asked if the Mayor’s office sent out any releases to the state highway department or <br />IDOT or whomever controls the highways. <br /> <br />Mayor Buttigieg stated that yes; the decision to take action is motivated by INDOT. INDOT was <br />the body because it was a federal highway that has been monitoring safety conditions on the <br />bridge. He stated that they were the ones that were most concerned and really what they were <br />trying to do is to make sure that there is adequate enforcement so it doesn’t trigger INDOT to <br />take any action that would restrict traffic, if it’s possible to do it with a combination of signage <br />and enforcement. He stated that they believe traffic will be restricted during the construction <br />phase, as they move into the summer, but at least one lane, and their understanding from INDOT, <br />is that at least one lane will be kept open at all times. <br /> <br />Councilmember Henry Davis stated so they send out releases or what have you to trucking <br />companies that use this route. He stated that is what he is asking, because a traffic report will <br />say that you can’t use this route and wondered if that had been taken care of. <br /> <br />Mayor Buttigieg stated that he is not familiar with what protocols INDOT uses to advise when <br />there are trucking restrictions that are new, but will certainly bring that up the next time he meets <br />with them. <br /> 5 <br /> <br />