Drivers who received traffic tickets in April were generally satisfied by how Fargo police conducted themselves, said a citizen survey commissioned by the Police Department.
Of 128 ticketed drivers surveyed, 72 percent said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the way officers handled themselves. Eighty-eight percent said the officers were business-like, and 84 percent said officers completed the stop in a reasonable amount of time.
"I'm not sure that when it comes to giving tickets we're going to do much better than this," said Police Chief Chris Magnus.
Three police volunteers surveyed ticketed drivers selected from an electronic database.
Volunteers called 300 people who had received traffic tickets to ask questions about their encounters with police. After numerous phone calls, officers reached 128 people to complete the survey, Magnus said.
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While 75 percent of those surveyed said officers didn't appear sarcastic to drivers, it may be an area officers can improve, said Deputy Chief Keith Ternes.
The department will see if there's anything officers can do to reduce this perception, he said.
But said Magnus: "Telling people to have a nice day can be considered sarcastic."
Traffic enforcement is one of the hot buttons in law enforcement today, he said.
Volunteers began the survey on May 19 and completed it Thursday.
The Police Department hasn't done any comparable surveys in the past, but will aim to do two more traffic surveys this year, Magnus said.
To view the survey and others on vehicle thefts and residential burglaries, go to the Police Department's Web site at www.fargopolice.com .
Readers can reach Forum reporter Lisa Schneider at (701) 241-5529
