LA Studying Removing Police From Traffic Enforcement

In another step toward complete and total lawlessness on the West Coast, Los Angeles is reportedly studying the idea of removing police from traffic enforcement altogether as a way to reform policing. 

A new report from the LA Times says that this week, the City Council approved a study aimed at determining how to implement additional speed bumps, roundabouts, and other modifications to streets to curb speeding and improve driving safety.

This would come in the place of traffic enforcement by officers after reform advocates argued for "the city to limit how often police pull people over for low-level offenses and to start imagining a future in which unarmed city workers would take over most traffic duties". 

Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson commented: “I think the city of Los Angeles can lead the nation.” 

In what, is the real question. 

In a unanimous 13-0 decision, the council ordered city transport staff to deliver feasibility studies within 90 days on proposals such as setting up unarmed civilian teams for specific traffic issues and accident investigations, reducing fines in less affluent areas, and halting stops for minor violations like expired tags, according to the LA Times report. 

Advocates from the Push L.A. coalition expressed cautious optimism about the vote, acknowledging it as a significant step but remaining concerned about potential bureaucratic obstacles.

Before the council meeting, dozens of organizers rallied outside City Hall, displaying signs and chanting slogans like “The People united, will never be defeated.”

Activist Leslie Johnson from Community Coalition pledged to maintain pressure on officials to prevent the study's findings from being ignored. The rally in downtown L.A. served both as a celebration of anticipated success and a reminder to the council of their vigilance.

Speakers referenced individuals like Keenan Anderson who died during traffic incidents involving police, and shared personal stories about the traumatic impact of traffic stops.

Interim chief Dominic Choi said: “Our job is public safety, and we’re going to use the tools that are given to us in the best way we can to improve public safety. So if restrictions are put on us, I’m going to visit roll calls, and I’ll talk about this policy change or this law and encourage our officers.”

Chauncee Smith of advocacy group Catalyst California commented: “From our perspective, having another feasibility study is not necessary; there’s numerous cities around the country that have already adopted a variety of these reforms. We’re focusing on changing the conditions, as opposed to punishing a person for something that they did or did not do.”