Kanagawa Prefectural Police former officer admits to falsifying traffic tickets

Yuichi Nakata, a former sergeant with the Kanagawa Prefectural Police's Second Traffic Mobile Unit, admitted to charges of falsifying official documents during his first trial at the Yokohama District Court. Nakata is accused of recording false information on traffic violation tickets, including instances where required pursuit measurements for speeding violations were not actually performed.

During the proceedings, Nakata stated that he did not fully realize the illegality of his actions at the time, claiming such enforcement methods were previously tolerated. Prosecutors argued that the misconduct stemmed from a desire to maintain high arrest numbers. They noted that changes in police vehicle lighting requirements had caused drivers to slow down more frequently, making it harder to maintain previous enforcement levels. The prosecution further alleged that Nakata continued the improper practices despite receiving warnings from superiors.