Petty courts process over 52 million traffic cases annually in the United States

Evidence

These numbers of cases are impressive. The numbers filed in petty courts, however, are almost astronomical. There were, it is estimated, almost 52 million traffic cases filed in the various traffic courts of the states in 2012. … These figures give at least some idea of the tremendous number of petty cases that come up every day in the lowest courts. They are the plankton in the ocean of law. — Lawrence M. Friedman and Grant M. Hayden, American Law, 368

Categorization

• CANDY: The ‘plankton in the ocean of law’ metaphor plus 52 million traffic cases is a memorable elevator fact.