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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    How local cops are becoming tax collectors

    So-called "zero tolerance" policing has been embraced as a way of reducing major crimes by focusing on minor ones. But there's another reason: fines and fees for low-level violations are now major sources of revenue for cities that have reduced taxation.

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    By Warren Olney • Aug 17, 2016 • 1 min read

    So-called "zero tolerance" policing has been embraced as a way of reducing major crimes by focusing on minor ones. But there's another reason: fines and fees for low-level violations are now major sources of revenue for cities that have reduced taxation. When poor people can't pay, they're assessed with penalties — often increased until jails become debtors' prisons, especially for blacks and other minorities. That's led to anger, resentment and sometimes to violent confrontations with the police. We hear how back-door municipal finance causes social chaos.

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Paul von Zielbauer

      Co-founder of Geezer magazine, former producer for To the Point and Which Way LA?; former reporter for the New York Times

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      Katie Cooper

      Producer, 'One year Later'

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      Jenny Hamel

      KCRW

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      Stephen Loomis

      Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association

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      Myron Orfield

      University of Minnesota Law School

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      Alexes Harris

      University of Washington

      NewsNationalPolitics
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