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SabbathRulez t1_iwzmiwv wrote

This is what you get when you combine minimal human enforcement with minimal consequences (i.e., Maryland/Virginia drivers have no reason to pay camera tickets and thus zero reason to care about cameras, DC residents can renew their driver's licenses even with thousands of dollars of dangerous moving violations on their records, a comically understaffed city boot team).

The people who have created and enthusiastically support the status quo keep getting re-elected (well, except for Silverman), so nothing will change.

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MedicalSpecializer OP t1_iwzn0jq wrote

you would think the city would love to enforce traffic laws to improve overall quality of life and create an inclusive space that reflects well on the nation’s capital. i just don’t get why they love the status quo.

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SabbathRulez t1_iwzodr9 wrote

MPD thinks active traffic enforcement is a poor use of resources, especially when their numbers are down and certain violent crimes are on the rise.

The Council thinks human traffic enforcement creates an inequitable environment.

And so here we are, with the city trying to traffic-camera its way to Vision Zero.

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xqe2045 t1_iwzw597 wrote

and yet people continue to re-elect the mayor of the city when nothing changes

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borg359 t1_ix062j0 wrote

Well everyone she ran against in the Democratic primary cared even less than she did about these issues, so it’s not hard to see why she was re-elected.

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MedicalSpecializer OP t1_iwzp6d3 wrote

antisocial behavior is a good indicator of propensity to engage in other antisocial behaviors. im sure the mpd knows this, so why not correct all antisocial behaviors?

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alizadk t1_ix10368 wrote

You mean like the Broken Windows theory of policing? https://www.law.columbia.edu/news/archive/shattering-broken-windows

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MedicalSpecializer OP t1_ix12wxu wrote

what about it? the general consensus is that it probably had a modest effect on reducing crime but probably works better when used in limited contexts with other inventions. furthermore, ensuring order in a community is a valuable goal in and of itself.

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BPCGuy1845 t1_ix0rlw5 wrote

Yet MPD does squat about violent and property crime either.

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giscard78 t1_iwztlcs wrote

> you would think the city would love to enforce traffic laws to improve overall quality of life and create an inclusive space that reflects well on the nation’s capital. i just don’t get why they love the status quo.

DC can’t enforce tickets on cars with Maryland and Virginia plates and the governments there don’t care about the quality of life in DC, it’s a place to earn an income and bring back to their states. Neither political party wants to be the party responsible for allowing DC to collect millions in ticket revenue, they’d frame it as an equity issue for their residents.

source: from Maryland

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joe_sausage t1_iwztqm2 wrote

Police don’t exist to improve quality of life or create an inclusive space. They exist to protect property and wealth. That isn’t being threatened by crazy drivers mowing down pedestrians.

If a wealthy, prominent business owner/donor got hit by a car the mayor would be out stopping red light runners that afternoon.

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Yithar t1_ix1ras3 wrote

It's the reason they avoided giving tickets for fare evasion on Metro. It was seen as creating an inequitable environment.

My recommendation? Just run and do your best to be aware and assume that drivers are not paying attention.

I wouldn't recommend starting a fight. Someone might be bigger or stronger than you or have a gun. It's not going to make a difference. It's like walking into an open office and telling people to shut up. It's a waste of your energy.

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OcelotControl78 t1_ix2ckrm wrote

First mistake right there - DC gov doesn't care about quality of life. Not sure what DC gov does care about honestly.

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Tahh t1_ix39php wrote

we don't have enough resources to solve half of the murders in this town. how far down the list are minor traffic offenses

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Def_Probably_Not t1_ix82sqp wrote

That's not entirely true. I went in recently to renew my license, and the DMV person said I had to pay a parking ticket from 2007 that I completely forgot about because I appealed it and never heard from them about the outcome. It was only $15, but she still made me pay it before she would renew my license.

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