Ticket Towns Part 2

Jonathan Hall Uncovers: Ticket Towns Part 2

Posted: 06/30/09

Ticket Towns Part 1

Nobody likes to get a ticket.

Police officer
"You came around the corner at 41".

It's expensive, and times are tough.

Police officer
"You were actually doing 38."

And many police chiefs say their focus is not making money.

Chief Michael Lyle, Melrose Police Department
"I'm really not concerned with the revenue. I'm concerned with public safety."
We found some cities and towns are downright lax when it comes to writing tickets.

Police officer
"Hi ma'am. License and registration please?"

7News examined RMV data for about 140 cities and towns inside Route 495 to find just how much money each community makes from moving violations. We took population into account to find the communities that make the least money per resident.

Medfield had the lowest ticket revenue with just $.28 per person last year. Compare that to the state's average of $4.50 per person and you can see it's a big difference.

Chief Robert Meaney, Medfield Police Department
"It did surprise me that the numbers were that low."

Scenic Scituate made just $.50 per resident, Medway just $.58, Melrose earned $.60 cents and Holbrook made $.64 per resident by writing tickets.

Police in these communities claim they don't have to write tickets with big fines to keep the streets safe.

Police officer
"You got a warning for speeding, ok?"

The chiefs tell us warnings can have a big impact without hitting people in the pocketbook. And they allow their officers to use their discretion when pulling over drivers.

Chief Robert Meaney, Medfield Police Department
"If they feel a written warning is fine that is acceptable."

We found Medfield police write four warnings, for every ticket.

Police officer
"I just gave you a written warning for the speed. Thirty-seven in a 30, ok?"

The chief in Medfield admits he hasn't pushed officers to be aggressive about traffic enforcement.

Chief Robert Meaney, Medfield Police Department
"If no one's asking you to do the work, directing you to do the work, people can slack off a bit. Are we gonna do something to change this? Yes."

Chief Meaney says ticket revenue in Medfield has doubled this year, thanks to adding a new full-time police officer.

In Melrose the chief says officers have to focus on more than just writing tickets.

Chief Michael Lyle, Melrose Police Department
"We have a number of issues that our officers could be tied up with. It could be criminal activity, not just motor vehicle enforcement."

And in Scituate...

Officer Mark Thompson, Scituate Police Department
"Hi, how are you sir?"

The chief has recently decided to make this officer's sole job traffic enforcement. Now the number of tickets being written in Scituate is up 50 percent.

Jonathan Hall, 7News
"So things are changing?"

Officer Mark Thompson, Scituate Police Department
"Things are changing."

Last month we showed you which towns make the most money, per resident, from speeding tickets. The top 5 inside 495: Newbury, Bedford, Merrimac, Georgetown, and Hopkinton.