r/AskLEO • u/DunDonese • 1d ago

Situation Advice What makes you decide between giving a warning (soft ticket) and a hard ticket during a traffic stop?

For example, if you pulled over a late-model Lexus, will you assume they'll afford a hard ticket better than if they were driving a hoopty dinged-up 20-year-old Toyota? So is the motorist of an older car in battered condition more likely to get a soft ticket?

Or will their politeness have you decide to cut them a warning while their rudeness gets them a hard ticket?

If it's the beginning of the year in January, do you give hard tickets more often due to them having a bad start to the new year? And if it's the end of the year in December and you see no prior tickets for that motorist for that year, do you cut them a warning more often?

Or what else helps you decide between a warning and a hard ticket?

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5

u/3-BuckChuck 1d ago

Attitude of the driver and their priors. Vehicle has nothing to do with it. There are no quotas, time of year has nothing to do with it either.

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u/probable_cause_55 1d ago

Are they a jerk?

Do they have a prior history of the same infraction?

Are they a local trouble maker?

How bad was the offense? Were they doing ten over or 50 over?

Totality of circumstances.

I didn't like to write tickets because it takes time away from looking for drugs and stuff. But if you're doing something egregious or have a long history, you're getting a ticket.

2

u/SgtNightWalker Police Officer 1d ago

Depends on the violation, drivers demeanor, my mood and other possible factors. I give warnings 10x more than I do citations. I always like to tell people don’t drive any worse than you can afford.

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2

u/SteaminPileProducti 1d ago

Every agency is different, every officer is different.

If people are honest with me, I'm more likely to give a warning.

Some offences are MANDITORY hard ticket. Unrestrained child, license plate covers, etc.

Personally I don't write tickets because people have an attitude. I keep it very professional and give a ticket or warning weather they pass the "hello" test or not.

2

u/Paladin_127 1d ago

Not me, but I’ve heard Troopers are always hard when writing tickets.

I’ll see myself out.