The simplest solution to Collars for Dollars abuse is by no means novel: Pay Dade cops to come to court only when they're needed, and their financial incentive to piggyback on drunk driving cases suddenly vanishes.

That's what Broward and other counties across America do.

In April, Dade took a step in that direction. Under a pilot program, hundreds of police officers subpoenaed to County Judge Wendell Graham's courtroom were told not to show up unless their case was firmly set for trial.