The Source of the Spring published an article today announcing that the Police Advisory Commission plans to hold a virtual forum on traffic enforcement. Scheduled for January 9th at 6:30 pm, community members can register to provide up to 3 minutes of testimony related to the release of their report on traffic enforcement.
It is a very strange request for public testimony given the firm language used by the Police Advisory Committee,
“The PAC believes that traffic enforcement practices in the county do not meet basic tests of effectiveness, efficiency, and equal enforcement, and that a change in mission, focus, and strategy is necessary,” according to a press release. “The PAC is very interested in hearing from the Montgomery County community regarding their experience with traffic enforcement, and what changes or improvements they would like to see”
It seems more reasonable that this public forum is more an opportunity for the Police Advisory Committee to have their beliefs validated by some members of the community. And it is “their beliefs”.
If you look at the published report, section F2 talks about the effectiveness of traffic enforcement. To quote from the report:
MCPD has stated that the effectiveness of its traffic enforcement program should be
measured in stops and citations. In response to PAC questions, MCPD said:
“Our progress is measured by “Efforts”, or the amount of time and resources that
are devoted to any area of the County. Our efforts are measured by results that
are measured as “Outcomes.” Outcomes come in the form of a written warning,
citation, or emergency repair order.”2We disagree. The effectiveness of traffic enforcement must be measured against its impact
on traffic accidents. That is the only appropriate metric for measuring effectiveness.
The report then goes on to provide charts they claim prove that “there is no evidence that traffic enforcement in Montgomery County reduces traffic incidents”
The logic (or lack thereof) is mind boggling. Is traffic enforcement the only variable that controls traffic incidents? Or are there other factors? If there are other factors, what degree of influence does traffic enforcement play?
Let’s look at another intervention that is meant to control traffic incidents: Speed Cameras. Montgomery County has been installing speed cameras at a rapid rate. Are these too useless? Do they not have any impact?
This is elementary style conclusion making based on absurdly lose cause and effect assumptions. And the result? A move to remove police from playing an important and vital role in ensuring public safety. I personally welcome more traffic surveillance and wonder what the metrics would be if there were police on every street observing violations of driving.
The report continues on making largely baseless claims rooted in ideologies as opposed to facts, in fact the report itself mentions that the data collected is insufficient!
Grab a chair and watch the systematic dismantling of public safety.
