It's not. Classic broken windows maneuver. Criminals tend to figure, in for a penny, in for a pound. Cops catch a ton of criminals with warrants out for their arrest while stopping them for minor traffic violations. That's why traffic stops are so dangerous for cops, yet so vital for catching perps.
When you stop them for minor traffic violations, people get irritated. Then, when you start on a arrogant power trip, people get angry.
If the police want the support of their city, they need to tone down the attitude, and quit stopping people for minor infractions.
A little detective work goes a long way in catching criminals. You don’t need to harrass the rest of the public while catching a few via minor traffic violations.