Bill banning traffic ticket quotas advancing in Senate

Law enforcement agencies could not require officers to write a certain number of tickets under legislation advancing to the Senate floor with just two weeks left in the legislative session.

The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved the bill Tuesday.

Sponsoring Rep. Justin Bamberg says quotas pressure officers to stop people for minor offenses, and his bill is a step in repairing relationships between law enforcement and the community.

The Bamberg Democrat also represents the family of Walter Scott, the black man shot and killed as he ran from a North Charleston police officer. Scott was pulled over for a broken third brake light.

The bill says officers can be evaluated on their “points of contact,” defined as their interactions with residents and businesses and their involvement in community initiatives.

The Associated Press

This story was originally published May 25, 2016 at 8:18 AM with the headline "Bill banning traffic ticket quotas advancing in Senate."