LOS ANGELES, CA - The defund the police movement caught new traction four years ago, following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. This was true across the nation, especially in Los Angeles, where reform advocates called for an all-out end to police reliance in the city.
Citing “persistent racial disparities” in searches and arrests as well as traffic stops, some advocates even insisted that city leaders remove sworn officers from traffic enforcement.
Los Angeles city streets are some of the deadliest in the country. In 2023, recorded crash deaths reached 336 citywide, according to data from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). Of those killed, 179 were pedestrian deaths. This is the highest number in more than two decades.
According to the Los Angeles Times, those asking for reform called upon the city to limit traffic stops for low-level offenses and “start imagining a future in which unarmed city workers would take over most traffic duties.”
In response to the calls for reform, the Los Angeles City Council authorized a study this past week to assess how this can be done. Street modifications will also be explored, such as adding more speed bumps and roundabouts in an effort to reduce unsafe driving.
A unanimous vote by the council has issued a directive to the city transportation staff as well as other departments to bring feasibility reports back to the council within 90 days. The reports will cover logistics and cost of proposals that include: limiting fines in poorer communities; ending traffic stops for minor violations such as expired tags; and creating unarmed civilian teams that would respond to specific traffic related incidents and issues.
Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson spoke about the study saying, “I think the city of Los Angeles can lead the nation.”
Prior to Wednesday’s meeting and vote, several people gathered for a rally and news conference. They held signs and could be heard chanting “the people united, will never be defeated,” among other slogans. Leslie Johnson from the activist group Community Coalition promised that she will continue to apply pressure to make sure that “the study results don’t get buried.”
Dominic Choi, Los Angeles’ interim chief, is holding his evaluation of the changes until he sees what the council is going to propose. Although he did point out that if traffic stops are conducted in a proper and constitutional manner, they are an effective tool in helping solve crime in the city.
“Our job is public safety, and we’re going to use the tools that are given to us in the best way we can to improve public safety. So if restrictions are put on us, I’m going to visit roll calls, and I’ll talk about this policy change of this law and encourage our officers,” Choi said.
It remains unclear currently how the citizens of Los Angeles are feeling about the use of unarmed traffic officers or civilian response teams handling traffic issues. However, in 2022, a survey done by Loyola Marymount University showed that residents were split on the matter.
Citing “persistent racial disparities” in searches and arrests as well as traffic stops, some advocates even insisted that city leaders remove sworn officers from traffic enforcement.
Los Angeles city streets are some of the deadliest in the country. In 2023, recorded crash deaths reached 336 citywide, according to data from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). Of those killed, 179 were pedestrian deaths. This is the highest number in more than two decades.
According to the Los Angeles Times, those asking for reform called upon the city to limit traffic stops for low-level offenses and “start imagining a future in which unarmed city workers would take over most traffic duties.”
In response to the calls for reform, the Los Angeles City Council authorized a study this past week to assess how this can be done. Street modifications will also be explored, such as adding more speed bumps and roundabouts in an effort to reduce unsafe driving.
A unanimous vote by the council has issued a directive to the city transportation staff as well as other departments to bring feasibility reports back to the council within 90 days. The reports will cover logistics and cost of proposals that include: limiting fines in poorer communities; ending traffic stops for minor violations such as expired tags; and creating unarmed civilian teams that would respond to specific traffic related incidents and issues.
Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson spoke about the study saying, “I think the city of Los Angeles can lead the nation.”
Prior to Wednesday’s meeting and vote, several people gathered for a rally and news conference. They held signs and could be heard chanting “the people united, will never be defeated,” among other slogans. Leslie Johnson from the activist group Community Coalition promised that she will continue to apply pressure to make sure that “the study results don’t get buried.”
Dominic Choi, Los Angeles’ interim chief, is holding his evaluation of the changes until he sees what the council is going to propose. Although he did point out that if traffic stops are conducted in a proper and constitutional manner, they are an effective tool in helping solve crime in the city.
“Our job is public safety, and we’re going to use the tools that are given to us in the best way we can to improve public safety. So if restrictions are put on us, I’m going to visit roll calls, and I’ll talk about this policy change of this law and encourage our officers,” Choi said.
It remains unclear currently how the citizens of Los Angeles are feeling about the use of unarmed traffic officers or civilian response teams handling traffic issues. However, in 2022, a survey done by Loyola Marymount University showed that residents were split on the matter.
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Comments
2024-06-17T08:50-0400 | Comment by: Michelle
The two most dangerous things cops deal with are domestic violence and traffic stops. LA will lead the nation alright, they’ll lead the nation in getting unarmed people killed trying to enforce traffic laws.
2024-06-17T13:09-0400 | Comment by: thomas
Speed bumps instead of police lol. Please all the people in California stay there, We don't need your ideas to leave that state
2024-06-17T19:15-0400 | Comment by: Rocco
What scared me in this article was the comment Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson spoke about the study saying, “I think the city of Los Angeles can lead the nation.” That Los Angeles would lead the nation in anything is terrifying, let alone policing. All I see is a string of unarmed traffic enforcers getting wasted by some gang banger that ran a red light, unless they are planning to make that a non-stoppable offense.
2024-06-18T10:14-0400 | Comment by: Brett
This is what you get having cowards running kalifornia and los angeles, plus their pushing their bs agenda about that loser criminal fool floyd which people are know was a fraud case!!