Police quota ban needs only DeWine’s signature to become law

By J.D. Davidson
The Center Square

Ohio motorists are just a signature away from not having to worry about municipalities using tickets to prop up their budgets.

The House and Senate agreed on legislation banning law enforcement officials or agencies from meeting an arrest or citation quota, leaving only a signature needed from Gov. Mike DeWine to make it law.

“Our law enforcement professionals are not revenue generators, ” said Rep. Kevin Miller, R-Newark. "This legislation prohibits them from being used as such. Thank you to Senator Patton for spearheading this legislation with us. It’s long overdue."

Twenty-five other states, including Michigan and Pennsylvania, already ban the practice, which is often used by government entities to enhance budgets. The Ohio State Highway Patrol bans it.

Ohio’s potential law would:

• Prohibits a law enforcement official or agency from establishing a plan that uses quotas as the basis for evaluating, promoting, compensating, transferring, or disciplining an officer.

• Prohibit requiring or suggesting that an officer must or is expected to meet a quota.

• Prohibit offering a benefit to an officer based on the officer’s quota.

• Require the attorney general to establish a form for a police officer to use to report the use of quotas in violation of the above prohibitions, to investigate alleged violations, and to issue a cease and desist order if a violation is found.

• Allow a police officer to choose whether to submit the report anonymously or disclose his or her identity in the report.

DeWine has not indicated if he plans to sign the bill.