LAPD agrees to avoid ticketing tardy students on their way to school

The Los Angeles Police Department has agreed to avoid ticketing tardy students for being truant if they are on their way to school, advocates for students announced Thursday.

The tickets, which can result in hundreds of dollars in fines and lost school time, are exactly the wrong approach for achieving better attendance, according to those who are involved.

Truancy and tardiness remain serious problems in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

City and school police issued more than 47,000 tickets from 2004 to 2009 -- 88% of them to African American and Latino students, who make up about 74% of students.

Among the changes:
• Truancy sweeps generally will not occur during the first hour of classes
• Officers will generally ask students if they have a legitimate explanation for not being in class before they write a ticket
• Police will be urged to make getting students to school a higher priority than ticketing them
• Police will no longer ticket on school grounds, where school authorities will be responsible instead for dealing with tardy students.

Parties included in the negotiations included Public Counsel, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, the Community Rights Campaign and the Los Angeles Police Department. L.A. Unified was not part of the agreement, but talks are ongoing between activists and officials.

School board member Tamar Galatzan, a deputy city attorney, said she welcomed “any agreement between law enforcement, school officials and community groups that results in our students being in class, ready to learn, when the bell rings.”

She added: “The best way for students to avoid truancy tickets is to get to school -- and be in class -- on time."

-- Howard Blume

Photo: Students arrive for school just before the 8:30 a.m. start at Antelope Valley High School. Administrators say the later start time has cut tardiness. Credit: Brian Vander Brug/Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Jocelyn]

I believe they shouldnt give tickets at all to them . I think its the childs decision to go to school or not. Its their education.

[Ellen]

I would like to say, WHERE ARE THE PARENTS? Don't worry, just call the LAPD "babysitting" service! Regardless of race (although it is a factor here, "evidently" according to the LAPD), why don't these individuals get to school on time? I think one big fat ticket would be a pretty good incentive to get them moving! What is with the LAPD...first they don't impound cars of ILLEGALS who drive without a license, now this! What is next???

[InfoSherpa]

So if I am late and speeding and a police car starts flashing, I should speed up and get onto campus, where I won't be ticketed?

[Juliet]

During my senior year in 2009 was arrested at 8:05 AM across the street from school. I was buying a bagel because I was starving and had all intentions of going to school right after. Instead, I was thrown into a police car, my stuff was seized, I was given a court date (so I missed MORE school) and had to pay a $200 fine. I wasn't even given a chance to speak in court. It was the most ridiculous, demeaning thing I've ever experienced and a total waste of my time. I'm glad this won't happen to kids in LA any longer, but I gotta say:

Can I get my money back, please?

- The Bagel Criminal

[4Right]

uncle_jeeter go back to school and learn to understand what you read. It is not racist at all. It seems that African Americans and Latinos are in the majority (88%) of students late to school. Facts are facts!!

[Daniel]

Great story! Readers and commenters should know that Mr. Blume (who is also a staff reporter) fleshed out this story with more information for the printed LA Times on Friday.

Can a "See also" link be added above pointing to that fuller story?
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-truant-20110414,0,5462279.story

Thanks!

[lotaguirre]

truancy is for repeat offenders not for occasional offenders
also school officials must notify parents in writing before
a student is considered truant

police officers and school officials fail to comply with
state laws
police officers are engaged in illegal search and seizure with the
school officials blessings

police officers and school officials are corrupt
read the state laws on truancy and you will find out
that most students do not fall into truancy category
also minors or students under the age of 18 do not belong
in adult courts where they are being forced to defend themselves
without an attorney present