Pullovers for Profit? Extending the Collars for Dollars Hypothesis to Police Traffic Stops

• In Event: Issues and Factors in Police Decision-Making

Abstract

Police officers, like other professionals, may experience productivity changes throughout their shifts. The typical direction of this productivity change is negative, with less productivity as shifts approach their end. However, the “collars for dollars” hypothesis suggests the opposite for police, positing that officers will seek out arrests close to shift end in order to force overtime hours, thus making more money. The current study empirically tests an extension of this framework, investigating time-based changes associated with a more discretionary police practice: traffic stops. This study hypothesizes that traffic stops will decrease as shift end approaches, contrary to the collars for dollars framework. Using traffic stop data from a large southern law enforcement agency, this research employs fixed effects regression modeling to assess shift’s impact on traffic stop patterns, controlling for workload and discretionary response factors. Findings will contribute to the empirical evaluation of police productivity, informing department policies on shift scheduling and enforcement distribution. Results will also provide insight into strategic staffing approaches to maintain consistent traffic enforcement and enhance public safety.

Authors

• Marc Olson, University of South Carolina

• Ian T. Adams, University of South Carolina