Pursuant to discussion with County Commissioner Sally Heyman, I would like to recognize the success of Miami-Dade County Ordinance 15-47 relating to police issued civil penalties for certain misdemeanor violations. The use of civil citations to cite violators has proven to be an effective and efficient method of educating the public and penalizing subjects. The civil citation process provides additional law enforcement options while allowing police to continue to exercise their discretion.

Effective July 10, 2015, the following misdemeanor crimes were added to section 8CC of the Miami-Dade County Code (MDCC) making them enforceable as civil citations.

• Florida Litter Law

• Illegal Use of Dairy Cases

• Trespass on Property other than a Structure of Conveyance

• Retail Theft by Removal of a Shopping Cart

• Loitering and Prowling

• Possession of Marijuana in an amount of 20 grams or less

• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Since July 2015, Miami Lakes law enforcement has been able to exercise effective community driven policing techniques thereby reducing the number of arrests for listed misdemeanor crimes from approximately 175, in the two years prior to the enactment of this legislation, to only 50 arrests in the two years since the law has been in place. This is a reduction of over 70%. Giving the officers the option, TML officers could have made over 300 arrests after this program was implemented in 2015, but chose to issue approximately 250 Civil Citations, in lieu of arrests. A civil citation does not equal arrest; no negative bearing on school admissions, scholarships, military service, bonded jobs, etc.

I would like to direct the Town Manager and Town Attorney to prepare a resolution in support of this program to remit to the Board of County Commissioners and the Miami-Dade County Mayor.

Fiscal Impact: Small