Drop in traffic tickets causes budget shortfall for state supreme court
The Nevada Supreme Court is in a budget bind because motorists in the state are receiving fewer traffic tickets, according to the state’s chief justice.
Chief Justice James Hardesty told lawmakers earlier this month that the court will run out of funds by May 1 if lawmakers don’t approve emergency funding, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.
The number of tickets has dropped more than 21 percent in a five-year period, the story says. The shortfall in the court’s budget is $700,000 this year.
“I’m not faulting law enforcement; either they are understaffed or they have changed policies,” Hardesty said. “Now with all due respect to the citizens of Nevada, I don’t think anyone is driving better. I think the truth is is that we’re seeing less traffic violations because law enforcement’s priorities have changed.”
The decline in ticket revenue has also affected the state’s specialty courts, Hardesty said.
Hat tip to How Appealing.
