Cops

[Prime]

Downloaded a recent season of Cops. It appears that every time someone is caught committing a traffic offence (driving unlicensed etc) or caught with small amounts of dope they are "going to jail today". Is this the norm across the country? When they are sent to jail are they held there for a period of time or is it just for the purpose of processing and then being released straight away with a court date?

Curious as its a bit different in Australia. You dont get arrested for minor traffic offences and you can be cautioned for possessing small amount of dope.

[The_PHA]

Downloaded a recent season of Cops. It appears that every time someone is caught committing a traffic offence (driving unlicensed etc) or caught with small amounts of dope they are "going to jail today". Is this the norm across the country? When they are sent to jail are they held there for a period of time or is it just for the purpose of processing and then being released straight away with a court date?

Curious as its a bit different in Australia. You dont get arrested for minor traffic offences and you can be cautioned for possessing small amount of dope.

Most police officers in the USA hunt drunk drivers. You get caught drinking and driving in the USA you are basically ostracized. It ends up on your record and you are deemed a horrendous person by insurance agencies, creditors and potential employers. Thankfully I have never had a DUI, but if you have you are generally perceived as a leper speeding through school zones hammered.

[BCR]

You aren't often getting cautioned for dope unless you run into a cool cop, but for a small amount, you are brought to police station, issued a citation is some states, or brought to a county jail briefly and usually bail out the same night for 10% of maybe a $1k bail. This is for a small amount that doesn't rise to what would be considered trafficking. This is general, as all states are different.

As far as the uninsured vehicle thing, I have never seen someone brought in for simply that. Usually tow car, and issued a ticket/fine. A lot of people driving around uninsured are generally going to be people without much money/driving shit car/ and are likely to have a warrant out for something else, and that is what you are seeing them get taken in for most likely in my experience. Some states may hold your vehicle until you pay for tow, pay the fine, and show proof you have obtained insurance, which all together might run you a grand up front. Both the crimes you listed are primarily revenue generators for the states. If you get caught possessing marijuana, they'll often send you to some type of diversion program that might cost close to $2k.

We have a disproportionate amount of lawyers per capita here in the US, and those 2 crimes are system feeders, but usually won't result in even a night in jail unless it's the weekend, or you're dead broke, or it's your 12th arrest.

[Banned]

Cops is the greatest, longest running show in television history.

/thread