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Bill

HB 175

"Jennifer's Law"; enact to prohibit state and local agencies from establishing traffic ticket quotas.

2025 Regular Session

Prohibits Mississippi law enforcement from setting traffic ticket quotas to prevent citation-based revenue generation and potential enforcement bias.

Died In Committee
#judiciaryb
0
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Bill Summary · HB 175

Legislative bill overview

HB 175, known as "Jennifer's Law," would prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies in Mississippi from establishing or enforcing traffic ticket quotas—numerical targets for citations officers must meet. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, after being referred to the Judiciary B committee in January.

Why is this important

Traffic quotas create financial incentives that can distort policing priorities, potentially leading officers to prioritize revenue generation over public safety. This practice raises concerns about fairness, as it may encourage citations in lower-income areas or for minor violations to meet numerical targets rather than addressing genuine safety issues.

Potential points of contention

  • Law enforcement opposition: Police departments may argue quotas help maintain officer productivity and accountability, and that removing them could reduce traffic enforcement effectiveness
  • Municipal revenue concerns: Local governments that rely on traffic fine revenue to fund operations may resist restrictions that could reduce this income stream
  • Definitional ambiguity: Disagreement over what constitutes a "quota" versus legitimate performance metrics—agencies might claim they use "productivity goals" rather than strict quotas to achieve similar effects

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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