That's a solid theoretical argument. However, it is contradicted by the empirical evidence.
What usually happens is that the police issue fines so frequently that they become considered an occupying force by the populace. In turn, the populace withholds information from the police, and both violent crimes and petty violations rise.
Police statistics make quantitative conclusions difficult, since they are so often fudged for political purposes. They rise when the police need more funding, and fall when they need political capital. Murder rates are generally considered the only reasonably accurate figures.
On the ground, however, the reality is very clear.
What usually happens is that the police issue fines so frequently that they become considered an occupying force by the populace. In turn, the populace withholds information from the police, and both violent crimes and petty violations rise.
Police statistics make quantitative conclusions difficult, since they are so often fudged for political purposes. They rise when the police need more funding, and fall when they need political capital. Murder rates are generally considered the only reasonably accurate figures.
On the ground, however, the reality is very clear.