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Transportation Policy Objectives / Alternative Models and Methods / Unarmed Law Enforcement

Council File 20-0875

Introduced
2020-06-30
Last changed
2026-05-06
Status
closed
Expires
2028-05-01
Mover
MIKE BONIN
Second
DAVID E. RYU
References
Chief Legislative Analyst Report: 25-05-0399; 25-07-0580; 25-07-0581Board Report: 26-031; 26-064

Brief

Introduced by Bonin, Wesson, Harris-Dawson, and Price in June 2020, this motion directs the city to develop and implement unarmed crisis intervention and prevention services, including a Traffic Enforcement Alternatives Project. After more than five years of committee review, analysis, and departmental reporting, Council adopted the final plan on May 6, 2026, with a 14-0-1 vote, incorporating amendments from the Ad Hoc Committee on Unarmed Crisis Prevention, Intervention, and Community Services.

Full summary

File 20-0875 emerged from the June 2020 police reform moment, proposing to shift certain law enforcement functions away from armed officers. The motion sought to establish alternative response models for crisis situations and traffic enforcement, grounded in the city's Mobility Plan 2035 and principles of community safety without armed police presence. The Department of Transportation developed the Traffic Enforcement Alternatives Project, exploring self-enforcement infrastructure and community-based methods as substitutes for officer-initiated traffic stops. The final Council action in May 2026 was built around two core directives. First, the Board of Police Commissioners was directed to strengthen LAPD's policy on pretextual stops, replacing the existing limitation language with explicit prohibitions: officers may not conduct pretextual stops of motorists or cyclists unless the violation poses a significant and imminent safety risk, and consent-based searches are banned during such stops. The updated policy also requires compliance with state laws AB 2773 and AB 2147, meaning officers must state the reason for a stop on body-worn camera before questioning begins, and racial bias in pedestrian stops must be actively prevented. The Board of Police Commissioners was also asked to explore a mail-based notification system for certain traffic violations, so that vehicle owners could receive citations by mail rather than through a police stop, while remaining responsible for remedying the violation. Second, the Office of Inspector General was directed to monitor LAPD traffic stop data using quarterly compliance audits and the Stops Review Pilot Program, and to report to Council semi-annually, including analyzing whether LAPD's public traffic dashboard can be updated to separately track pretextual stop data. The file traveled a long legislative path. The Ad Hoc Committee on Police Reform approved an initial version in October 2020, and Council adopted it in February 2021. The matter was revisited through the Transportation Committee beginning in late 2023, with LADOT submitting detailed reports on the Traffic Enforcement Alternatives Project in November 2023 and February 2025. By early 2026, the newly formed Ad Hoc Committee on Unarmed Crisis Prevention, Intervention, and Community Services took joint jurisdiction with the Transportation Committee, receiving updated analysis from the Chief Legislative Analyst and Board of Police Commissioners. The Ad Hoc Committee approved an amended version on March 6, 2026, with Councilmember Blumenfield's amendments incorporated; the Transportation Committee submitted its report without a recommendation. On May 6, 2026, Council adopted the Ad Hoc Committee report as further amended by motions from McOsker, Harris-Dawson, Hutt, and Hernandez, on a 14-0-1 vote. Community impact statements from the Downtown Los Angeles and North Westwood neighborhood councils were submitted in support. The file is now closed and final.

Activity (44)

  • 2026-05-06 Council action final.
  • 2026-05-06 Council adopted Motion (Hernandez - Hutt) to adopt the Report from Ad Hoc Committee on Unarmed Crisis Prevention, Intervention, and Community Services, as amended by Amending Motion 5C (McOsker - Harris-Dawson - Hutt), as further verbally amended by Motion (Hutt - Hernandez), forthwith.
  • 2026-05-01 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on May 6, 2026.
  • 2026-03-06 Ad Hoc Committee on Unarmed Crisis Prevention, Intervention, and Community Services approved as amended .
  • 2026-03-06 Transportation Committee submits report to Council without recommendation .
  • 2026-03-05 Ad Hoc Committee on Unarmed Crisis Prevention, Intervention, and Community Services; Transportation Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on March 6, 2026.
  • 2026-03-04 Chief Legislative Analyst document(s) referred to Ad Hoc Committee on Unarmed Crisis Prevention, Intervention, and Community Services; Transportation Committee.
  • 2026-03-04 Document submitted by Chief Legislative Analyst, dated March 4, 2026.
  • 2026-03-04 Board of Police Commissioners document(s) referred to Ad Hoc Committee on Unarmed Crisis Prevention, Intervention, and Community Services; Transportation Committee.
  • 2026-03-03 Document submitted by Chief Legislative Analyst, dated March 3, 2026.
  • 2026-03-03 Document submitted by Board of Police Commissioners, dated March 3, 2026.
  • 2026-02-10 Board of Police Commissioners document(s) referred to Ad Hoc Committee on Unarmed Crisis Prevention, Intervention, and Community Services; Transportation Committee.
  • 2026-02-06 Document submitted by Board of Police Commissioners, dated February 6, 2026.
  • 2026-02-02 Chief Legislative Analyst document(s) referred to Ad Hoc Committee on Unarmed Crisis Prevention, Intervention, and Community Services; Transportation Committee.
  • 2026-01-30 Document submitted by Chief Legislative Analyst, dated January 30, 2026.
  • 2025-05-09 Community Impact Statement submitted by North Westwood Neighborhood Council.
  • 2025-04-09 Transportation Committee approved item(s) .
  • 2025-04-04 Transportation Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on April 9, 2025.
  • 2025-02-27 Department of Transportation document(s) referred to Ad Hoc Committee on Unarmed Crisis Prevention, Intervention, and Community Services; Transportation Committee.
  • 2025-02-26 Document(s) submitted by Department of Transportation, as follows:Department of Transportation report, dated February 25, 2025, relative to the Traffic Enforcement Alternatives Project, self-enforcement infrastructures and Mobility Plan 2035.
  • 2024-11-20 Community Impact Statement submitted by Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council.
  • 2024-06-14 Council action final.
  • 2024-06-12 Council adopted item, subject to reconsideration, pursuant to Council Rule 51.
  • 2024-06-11 Public Safety Committee approved item(s) .
  • 2024-06-07 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on June 12, 2024.
  • 2024-06-07 Public Safety Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on June 11, 2024.
  • 2024-04-03 Transportation Committee approved as amended .
  • 2024-04-03 City Clerk transmitted Council File to Public Safety Committee.
  • 2024-03-29 Transportation Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on April 3, 2024.
  • 2024-02-21 Transportation Committee continued item to a date to be determined.
  • 2024-02-16 Transportation Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on February 21, 2024.
  • 2023-12-06 Transportation Committee continued item to a date to be determined.
  • 2023-12-01 Transportation Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on December 6, 2023.
  • 2023-12-01 Department of Transportation document(s) referred to Public Safety Committee; Transportation Committee.
  • 2023-11-30 Document(s) submitted by Department of Transportation, as follows:Department of Transportation report, dated November 30, 2023, relative to the overview of the Traffic Enforcement Alternatives Project.
  • 2023-02-27 Community Impact Statement submitted by North Westwood Neighborhood Council.
  • 2021-08-21 Community Impact Statement submitted by Los Feliz Neighborhood Council.
  • 2021-02-23 Council action final.
  • 2021-02-23 Council adopted item forthwith.
  • 2021-02-19 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on February 23, 2021.
  • 2020-10-23 Ad Hoc Committee on Police Reform approved as amended .
  • 2020-10-21 Ad Hoc Committee on Police Reform scheduled item for committee meeting on October 23, 2020.
  • 2020-07-29 Community Impact Statement submitted by Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council.
  • 2020-06-30 Motion document(s) referred to Ad Hoc Committee on Police Reform.

Documents (54)

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