I also feel that with the financial shortfalls, the local police forces are getting a lot more aggressive about traffic "violations." If you read in detail the California Motor Vehicle Code, it is really virtually impossible to drive without violating one of the provisions. I think that is the case everywhere in the world. Look at all the regulations: using your turn signals for 100 feet, maintaining XX feet between your car and the car in front, come to a COMPLETE stop before making a right hand turn (left hand for England). Stopping before coming into a pedestrian crosswalk, etc. Talking to the people I work with, it seems quite a few people have been hit up with these kind of "violations."