New Police Add Revenue????

By Andrew Richter

Here’s a question; why would cities add a police officer? Well, in New Hope the reason seems to add revenue to the city;

Council members granted approval to the New Hope Police Department to add a traffic car to the fleet, and with it a new officer at the New Hope City Council work session. The idea was first introduced to the council in 2012. At the time a trial was proposed to assign an officer to a designated traffic position from June to September 2012. Due to unexpected staff shrinking the trial only lasted from June to mid-August.

OK, nothing wrong so far…..

Traffic units are deemed successful by maintaining a minimum of one citation per hour. The officer who participated in this trial averaged 1.31 citations per hour according to the City Council meeting agenda.

Successful? Citations equal success?

Aside from the potential revenue it could create, the traffic unit will more importantly enhance public safety.

Typically each year the police department “recycles” its cars but instead it will keep an existing car to add to the fleet. That car will become the designated traffic car.

The police department had a designated traffic unit in the late ‘80s through early ‘90s but due to ever-changing staff size and budget, the traffic unit was phased out. “It’s something I think is necessary today,” said Tim Fournier, New Hope chief of police.

New Hope will become one of several departments within the metro to have designated traffic units. Fournier said the street officer will raise public awareness to traffic laws simply by enforcing them which will help maintain lawful driving throughout New Hope.

“Traffic cars are a self-funded kind of position,” Fournier said.

Revenues derived from the traffic car will not only fund the officer but help maintain the traffic car and its equipment as well. The traffic unit is estimated to start January 2014.

Well, since this is “self funded” look for more parking tickets, lawn citations, jaywalking violations, and bike license increases. Boy I feel safer already!

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