Police ordered to write more tickets
Council seeks extra $1M a year in fine revenue
Colette Derworiz and Emma Poole
Calgary Herald
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Calgary's top cop said he's not interested in turning the force into a money-maker, despite calls from city council to increase fine and other revenues within the service's budget.
Chief Jack Beaton said it's unlikely the service will be able to meet council's $3-million revenue expectation next year -- more than $1 million more than what was projected.
Aldermen approved the change in a 9-6 vote as they tried to find ways to cut millions from its 2006-08 budget, which calls for a 5.4 per cent tax increase next year.
Beaton was disappointed with council's expectation of the police service as a revenue generator.
"We don't want to write tickets for the sake of writing tickets," Beaton said late Monday. "We do traffic enforcement for one reason -- safety."
The police budget for 2006 is $187 million, with nearly $2.1 million in projected revenues. The amendment would add an extra $1 million next year.
Ald. Bob Hawkesworth, who proposed the change, said it will be a good incentive for drivers to obey the rules of the road.
"These are expenses people can avoid by driving within the speed limit," he said, noting it would bring additional revenues to one of the city's biggest departments while reducing property taxes.
Hawkesworth said it's a wise move if it makes the streets safer.
But Ald. Craig Burrows, who sits on the Calgary Police Commission, said it would be difficult for police to generate $1 million in extra revenue.
© The Calgary Herald 2005
