Changes in Los Angeles Law Enforcement Policy for Infractions and Misdemeanors
The Los Angeles Police Department has recently changed its policy regarding certain violations. Many violations that were once misdemeanors, including driving without a license, drinking in public, and gambling, are now considered mere infractions, punishable by fines instead of jail time. However, this does not mean that people can misbehave without consequences. Police can still charge individuals with a misdemeanor if it is their second violation, if they have a criminal record, or if there are no extenuating circumstances.
Efficiency and Effectiveness of the New Policy
Before this change, police had to submit evidence for review, only to have most cases downgraded to infractions anyway. There are thousands of such “wobblers” or “wobblettes” each year. In response to the City Attorney’s Office revising filing guidelines in May, the LAPD Deputy Chief issued a memo listing 91 violations that police can now deem infractions, avoiding the need for costly and time-consuming prosecutorial reviews that would likely reach the same conclusion. This new policy does not take away the officer’s ability to file a violation as a misdemeanor, if warranted.
Additional “Wobblers” that can be Written up as Infractions
Other “wobblers” that police can now write up as infractions without undergoing review include using a fake ID to buy alcohol, trespassing, urinating or defecating in public, illegal vending, and failing to attend court-ordered traffic school. Pet owners should also be aware that their pets must have required dog tags, licenses, and rabies vaccines. People frequenting the city’s parks and beaches should also avoid skateboarding without a helmet, littering, putting up tents and camps, and violating noise regulations.
Similar Measures Taken by Other Jurisdictions in California
Sacramento County and San Diego City have also downgraded several misdemeanors to infractions, such as gambling and theft of free newspapers, respectively. However, these changes have not compromised public safety. In the last year, the San Diego City Attorney’s Office has changed its filing guidelines to treat certain circumstances of driving without a license or on a suspended license as infractions instead of misdemeanors.