Proposal to Remove Police from Traffic Enforcement in Los Angeles
A controversial idea to have something other than police handle traffic enforcement in Los Angeles is facing bureaucratic delays, but city officials are still pushing ahead with it.
This progressive initiative, which comes in a city where traffic fatalities outnumber homicides, was initially introduced in 2020 amidst calls for police reform following George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis.
According to a report from Saturday’s Los Angeles Times, the city has been progressing slowly on this initiative. The suggestion advocates for unarmed civilians to manage traffic issues instead of the LAPD, reinforced by a study conducted in 2023.
However, this study highlighted that substantial infrastructure improvements are essential to enhance road safety in Los Angeles, noted as “the deadliest in the nation.” Enhancements such as speed bumps, roundabouts, and similar changes are essential to curb speeding and dangerous driving.
Though traffic-related deaths in 2024 saw a decline to 302 from 345 in 2023, this number remains alarmingly higher compared to the 268 homicides reported. According to LAPD statistics, 170 pedestrians lost their lives due to vehicle incidents, exacerbated by a lack of crosswalks with traffic signals—requiring drivers to rely on signs and small markers.
The city also faces issues with street racing and “flash mobs,” where groups of vehicles exhibit reckless driving in proximity to crowds. These gatherings are sometimes followed by other criminal activities.
Concerns have been raised by residents about poor traffic management, including a lack of signal-controlled left-turn lanes, making enforcement of traffic laws quite infrequent.
Even affluent neighborhoods like Brentwood and Malibu are experiencing problems with high-performance vehicles speeding through famed areas like Sunset Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway.
Last summer, the City Council sought reports from various departments on how to handle traffic enforcement without police officers and gave officials three months to respond. Yet, over a year later, these reports have yet to be delivered.
“I’m really frustrated with the delay,” remarked Council President Marquise Harris Dawson, one of the initial supporters of the proposal. “Typically, when you attempt significant reforms, there’s a strong motive to change things. But that doesn’t seem to be the case here.”
The LAPD’s stance on this proposal has been mixed, with some officials indicating a willingness to reduce some traffic oversight, while others believe a stronger enforcement is necessary given the current circumstances where traffic deaths surpass homicides.
Some within the department have expressed concerns that these proposals seem driven by left-leaning politicians and activists looking to strip valuable tools from law enforcement. They argue that, when executed correctly, traffic stops can deter dangerous driving behaviors.
As city officials wait for the report from the LAPD, President Harris Dawson continues to believe there should be a role for armed officers in traffic enforcement. “I don’t think there’s any need to stop people for minor violations unless public safety’s at risk,” he proposed. Yet he acknowledged, “If someone is speeding at 90 miles an hour on Crenshaw, that person should definitely be stopped immediately, and by someone who is armed.”
The theme of traffic as an antagonistic force also appears in Lowell Caffiel’s crime novels centered in Los Angeles.
