San Francisco, projected to have a billion-dollar deficit by 2027, has left millions in revenue on the table over the past decade because law enforcement has been forced to cut back on the number of traffic citations they issue, which has dropped a staggering 96%, according to a new analysis.
The decision to stop focusing on traffic tickets has been driven by staffing shortages — San Francisco is currently down 600 police officers — as well as law enforcement officers turning their attention to other types of crime, according to the San Francisco Standard.
In 2014, the San Francisco Police Department cited nearly 130,000 traffic violations, according to department data the news outlet reviewed. That figure dropped to about 50,000 in 2019 before falling to 4,000 in 2022. The number increased slightly in 2023 to 5,100, though the bump was microscopic when compared with other rates.
When a citation is issued and the ticket is paid, the money goes to the Superior Court, which passes it to the city. The money comes from all law enforcement agencies with a presence in San Francisco, including the city’s police department and the California Highway Patrol. The money collected is then divided between the city and state.
The lack of funding and other incentives have been blamed for the city’s police shortages and uneven policing policies.
“We’re looking to increase enforcement,” said Cmdr. Nicole Jones, who oversees the SFPD Traffic Company. “It’s no secret that we have a staffing shortage, so we’re going to have to be very precise and focus on the locations and violations that are causing the most harm.”
Jones testified at a September 2023 hearing that department-wide staffing troubles had pulled traffic cops away from their core duties to help out during demonstrations, violence reduction, and responding to 911 calls, leaving traffic enforcement in the rearview mirror.
Last year, the city approved a $25 million budget supplement to pay for more police overtime. Supervisor Matt Dorsey proposed luring recruits with generous signing bonuses. The city comptroller’s office came back and said the proposal would cost San Francisco $300 million. Supervisor Ahsha Safai then said the money could be generated by a new tax and voters rejected it outright.
The renewed push for traffic citations also comes after a March wrong-way crash that led to the death of a family of four. There have been a dozen traffic fatalities in San Francisco this year, which has led to calls for Mayor London Breed to push for a program called Vision Zero, which supporters say will bring back traffic enforcement and millions in revenue.
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San Francisco’s budget deficit is expected to climb to $1.4 billion by 2027.
Calls to Breed’s office for comment were not returned. Safai is one of several candidates vying for Breed’s job in the November general election.