The effects of aggressive policing: the Dayton traffic enforcement experiment

Abstract

Reports on a field experiment in Dayton, Ohio, where the police department has no specialized traffic division, hence traffic enforcement is part of the routine assignment. Aims to measure the effects of traffic law enforcement on crime, arrests and traffic accidents. Presents data covering all index arrests and special arrests involving weapons, drugs and offenders driving under influence, plus all reported traffic accidents. Contrary to other research, fails to detect a relationship between traffic enforcement and crime. Investigates possible reasons for this.

Citation

Weiss, A. and Freels, S. (1996), "The effects of aggressive policing: the Dayton traffic enforcement experiment", American Journal of Police, Vol. 15 No. 3, pp. 45-64. https://doi.org/10.1108/07358549610129622