It's repugnant to have police officers plea-bargaining the tickets they wrote. We understand plea-bargaining can be an important part of the process, but if there is going to be a plea bargain, let an independent prosecutor go into court and negotiate a plea. The police officer's job is to write the tickets.

224

There's an inherent outward appearance of unfairness and duress when a motorist is forced to plea bargain with the very same officer who stands as his or her accuser. That's the motivation.

192