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Bill designed to discourage traffic ticket quotas for officers passes state Senate

OLYMPIA, Wash. — A bill designed to discourage traffic ticket quotas for officers in Washington passed the state Senate on Friday 47-0.

The bill, sponsored by retired Spokane police officer Sen. Jeff Holy, now goes to the House for consideration.

Under Senate Bill 6313, a law enforcement officer’s evaluation, salary or possibility of promotion “must not consider the number of traffic infractions issued or the amount of penalties produced from the traffic tickets issued.”

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During his floor speech, Holy said 14 other states have passed laws prohibiting officers from being assigned traffic ticket quotas.

“Several other states have recognized this problem and have addressed it, but Washington has yet to do so," Holy said.

Holy introduced an identical measure in 2016. House Bill 2399 was approved 95-2 in the House, but it died in the Senate.