The San Marcos Police Department reported a 70% increase in citations and a 23% decrease in crime from 2019 after qualifying 2020 as an “odd year” due to COVID-19.
At the San Marcos City Council meeting Tuesday night, Interim Chief Bob Klett provided the first quarterly report to the council as required by the Cite and Release Ordinance, which was approved April 7 as the first of its kind in Texas.
The new civil law directs SMPD to issue citations for low-level nonviolent offenses like theft of service less than $375, theft of property less than $375, criminal mischief less than $375, graffiti less than $375, possession of marijuana less than 4 oz., Class C misdemeanors excluding public intoxication, assault and family violence, and driving while license invalid.
