Traffic violation enforcement is essential for preventing accidents and relies heavily on public trust in the police. Recent misconduct by the Kanagawa Prefectural Police's Traffic Division has shaken this trust, raising concerns that it could adversely affect overall traffic enforcement practices. The police must urgently implement effective measures to restore trust and prevent the recurrence of such issues in the future.

The standard procedure for traffic enforcement typically requires police officers to visually confirm violations on-site, particularly in speed enforcement where patrol cars must follow a violator at a consistent distance to gauge speed accurately. However, it has come to light that the Kanagawa police have repeatedly failed to adhere to these established protocols. This discrepancy undermines the foundation of trust that drivers place in law enforcement to conduct themselves appropriately while enforcing traffic laws.

For two years, these lapses went unnoticed, leading to a situation where unacceptable enforcement practices persisted unchecked. The implications of these findings are significant, as they not only challenge the integrity of the Kanagawa police but also risk diminishing public confidence in traffic law enforcement across Japan, making it imperative for the police to regain the public's trust through transparent and accountable practices.