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HB 687

Public Safety - Law Enforcement - Quotas (Community-Oriented Policing Act)

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Gabriel Acevero and 19 co-sponsors

Maryland bill prohibits law enforcement from enforcing ticket/citation quotas to promote community-oriented policing and reduce citation-driven revenue incentives.

Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.
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Bill Summary · HB 687

Legislative bill overview

HB 687 would prohibit law enforcement agencies in Maryland from implementing or enforcing ticket/citation quotas for individual officers. The bill aims to promote community-oriented policing by removing incentive structures that tie officer evaluations or compensation to arrest or citation numbers.

Why is this important

Quota systems have been criticized for incentivizing officers to prioritize ticket-writing over public safety, potentially leading to increased traffic stops and citations in lower-income communities. Eliminating quotas could reshape how police departments measure officer performance and community interactions, though implementation details matter significantly for actual impact.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition and enforcement: The bill's success depends on how "quota" is defined—agencies might circumvent restrictions through performance metrics that appear different but function similarly (e.g., "productivity goals" or "performance benchmarks").
  • Police management concerns: Law enforcement leadership may argue that some performance metrics are necessary for accountability and efficiency, and that the bill removes management tools without offering alternatives.
  • Community safety trade-offs: Opponents may claim that removing citation quotas could reduce traffic enforcement and minor crime deterrence, while supporters counter this overstates the public safety benefit of quotas.

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

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