Ticket fixing is a practice in which a public official destroys or dismisses a pending traffic ticket

Traffic ticket

A traffic ticket is a notice issued by a law enforcement official to a motorist or other road user, accusing violation of traffic laws. Traffic tickets generally come in two forms, citing a moving violation, such as exceeding the speed limit, or a non-moving violation, such as a parking violation,...

 as a favor to a friend or family member. For example, police officer

Police officer

A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...

s in a number of jurisdictions have been charged with destroying pending tickets at the request of other officers. Judge

Judge

A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...

s have also been accused of ticket fixing. Some police officers consider it a "professional courtesy" extended to friends and relatives of police officers. However, the practice is unpopular with the general public, and is illegal in most jurisdictions.

Ticket fixing in the United States

Allegations of ticket fixing have cropped up for decades in jurisdictions around the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, including Georgia

Georgia (U.S. state)

Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...

, Alabama

Alabama

Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...

, New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

, and San Diego.

In 1986, officers of the Georgia State Patrol

Georgia State Patrol

The Georgia State Patrol is the highway patrol agency for the U.S. state of Georgia. The GSP has statewide jurisdiction with the exception of federal military installations...

 faced charges of ticket fixing.

In 1999, an investigation revealed widespread ticket-fixing in Alabama.

In 2004, Santa Clara County judge William Danser was charged faced charges for fixing tickets and reducing drunken-driving sentences for "South Bay athletes, golfing buddies and friends of friends."

On October 27, 2011, at least 11 New York police officers

New York City Police Department

The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...

were charged with offenses related to ticket fixing.