I am a resident of Franklin, MI, who has seen firsthand the excessive policing in our community. Franklin Police are known for being overzealous in their duties, going as far as pulling over drivers for minor offences such as going 3 miles per hour over the speed limit or crossing on a yellow light. These actions aren’t just unnecessary, they represent a significant waste of resources that could be better allocated for more pressing issues in our community.

While zero-tolerance policies are implemented with the intention of maintaining law and order, they can lead to over-policing, especially in communities where the police force is disproportionately large. Studies indicate that strict enforcement of minor traffic offences does not necessarily contribute to driving safety. Instead, it can strain police-community relations and foster resentment (source: National Institute of Justice).

It's high time we reconsider how we distribute our resources. Instead of focusing on enforcement of petty offences, we could put our funds into improving our community infrastructure, schools, parks, and providing other valuable community services. Cutting funding for the Franklin Police Department would represent an important first step in this direction.

Living in a community where traffic stops are more frequent than actual crime places a strain on all of us. It's time for reformation. Please sign this petition to call for a reallocation of our funds and a reevaluation of our policing priorities.