10 Fines Per Month: Maltese Police Officer Confirms Quota For Traffic Tickets
A Maltese police officer has admitted that officers are expected to issue at least 10 traffic tickets each month, confirming a long-standing debate.
This is the first time a police officer has publicly confirmed the existence of quotas for traffic tickets, with officer Clive Mallia also saying that in places such as St Julian’s, the number is even higher.
Mallia revealed this while on oath, testifying in a court case involving five people accused of assaulting him and a colleague in Ħamrun last month, Times of Malta reported.
At first, Mallia played it down, claiming there was “nothing official” when defence lawyer Franco Debono pressed him on the issue.
But after a nudge from Magistrate Monica Vella, Mallia acknowledged the unwritten rule, even admitting he had already met his monthly quota when he booked the car of his alleged attacker, Kurt Borg.
The debate over ticket quotas definitely isn’t new. For years, private companies running community officers — better known as wardens — vehemently denied using quotas. But in 2015, former Junior Minister Stefan Buontempo had subtly admitted to their existence while announcing plans to scrap them following public complaints.
Despite the supposed end of the quota era, Mallia’s testimony suggests that the practice is still alive within the police force.
What do you make of this development?
READ NEXT: Maltese Photographer Encounters Endangered Bull Ray In Night Dive
