What next? Letting murderers off with a slap on the wrist?

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/10/19/1019tickets.html

The Austin Police Department is looking to pass a policy that allows Austin officers to write tickets instead of arresting citizens who have committed either a Class A or B misdemeanor. These are things such as posessing a small amount of marijuana or driving with a suspended license. They claim that it would save the officers time and allow them to spend more time catching "real" criminals. I understand that it takes time to take anyone who has committed any crime to jail and to fill out paperwork. I also understand that by passing this policy Austin officers would in fact have more time to patrol the streets. This policy might sound like a good idea right now, but if we're reducing the punishment for these type of crimes, how much longer do you think it will be until we do the same thing for slightly bigger crimes. It's like punishing a child for stealing any cookies from the jar. Then a year later letting them get away with taking one and only punishing them if they take two. After a while we'll think it's ok to take two and only punish them for taking three. To me it seems like this new policy could possibly weaken the affect of our police force over time. The APD will continue to let what they think are "minor" crimes off the hook with just a ticket. I feel that passing this new policy might lead to higher crimes because criminals will be able to get off with a more reduced punishment.