By Mindy Ragan Wood
Staff Writer
A frequent gripe from Piedmont citizens on Facebook about its police department may subside as cops write fewer tickets.
During its Monday night council meeting, city council members were prepared to discuss “police procedures” on its agenda but it was quickly dismissed as having been resolved prior to the meeting.
“I’ve spoke with the city manager about that,” Acting Mayor Bobby Williamson said. “And that’s been settled.”
City Manager Jason Orr said Tuesday that some council members believe the police department was “too heavy handed” when it came to writing tickets.
“Our officers have been doing a good job of stopping people whenever citizens are breaking the law and they get a ticket,” he said. “Some of our council members felt we were too heavy handed with our ticket writing and so we’re going to make an adjustment.”
People travelling through the town can expect more warnings.
“We’re going to change the ticket-to-warning ratio and see if that gives us a more positive response from the community. About 15 percent, roughly, of our stops result in a warning and we’re going to issue more warnings in the future,” Orr said.
Piedmont residents have long accused the department of having a citation quota, but Chief Scott Singer said that’s not the case.
“We do not have a quota,” he said. “And that number, 15 percent warnings is misleading because it doesn’t include oral warnings, only written warnings. I believe it’s much higher. I give quite a few warnings myself.”
Tickets are down slightly for the year. City records show from August 30, 2017 to August 29, 2018 the police department issued 3,329 citations to citizens. From August 30, 2016 to
August 30, 2017, the department gave 3,433 tickets. Those numbers do not include warnings.
Singer confirmed that his department will likely be issuing more warnings, but there are some offenses for which tickets have to be issued.
“We are reevaluating what we consider to be community-oriented policing issues. We will examine every stop and determine where that stop arises to the level that would require a citation. If it doesn’t and we believe a warning is appropriate, written or oral, it will suffice,” he said. “There are issues that are administrative through the Department of Public Safety that require citation like failure to pay taxes on tag, driving under revocation or suspension, those kinds of things require citations. Those things that don’t require citations, we will consider all the facts and decide what is appropriate.”
Residents have aired their complaints with the department off and on for months. Some of those complaints seem to show a small farming community clashing with big city policing practices.
Recently a man was given a $225 ticket for driving his farm equipment into the other lane after he avoided hitting a mailbox.
“Most people don’t know including the PD that all farm equipment has the right away at all times,” Gregory Glenhorn wrote on Facebook. “I’m saddened that this happen to him. These guys are trying to make a living this time of year and we have a police department that doesn’t even yield to our farmers in our hometown. I hope you guys will pass this along and share this to all that might have influence with our local enforcers. I also got a ticket the other day in our local town. I have lived here since 1970 and have never had a speeding ticket in this town. When I told this to the officer she said, ‘Well I hope it’s your last.’”
The Facebook post drew the interest of a city council member. Councilman John Brown’s wife commented on that post that her husband would look into it. Brown said Wednesday after speaking with police and reviewing video footage that the farmer was driving his equipment on a trailer.
“If you’re driving the equipment then you have the right-of-way,” Brown said. “But if you’re driving a truck, pulling it behind on a trailer then you have to follow the laws like everyone else. It was determined that the ticket was warranted.”
Stacey Mason commented on the post saying a friend was given a ticket for “going into other lane,” because he was “going around a pot hole in Piedmont. They must be in need of money in Piedmont.”
Singer said his officers issue valid citations.
“If someone believes they were issued a citation improperly they can bring it to my office or dispute the citation in court and let the judge decide whether or not the citation was proper,” he said.
Several factors determine when someone is issued a warning, Singer said, such as the offense and if a driver has a history of traffic violations.
