LAPD Tries To Curb Officer Accidents

The Los Angeles Police Department is considering new policies to curb officer traffic accidents to lower the number of lawsuits filed against the department.

Accidents involving LAPD officers account for a fourth of all lawsuits filed against the department. LAPD officers are now averaging an accident per day, reports the Los Angeles Times.

The department now uses a point system for accidents deemed to be the officer's fault. Officers are assigned one, two or four points, depending on the seriousness of the crash. If an officer is issued three points in a 24-month period, he or she is required to undergo driver retraining. Cops lose the right to drive for six months if they acquire five points over three years.