The Montreal Police Brotherhood is calling on the city to stop setting quotas for officers issuing tickets and has launched a new awareness campaign targeting the public.

Union president Yves Francoeur said traffic safety officers are expected to hand out 16 tickets per day. He said the policy often leads to officers targeting roads or intersections that aren't dangerous, simply to meet their quotas.

Francoeur said the goal of handing them out should be to ensure the "​security of citizens — not to bring money to city hall."

The police brotherhood surveyed 1,000 Montrealers and found that 80 per cent were against ticket quotas. Many U.S. states have passed laws against quotas and it would like Montreal to do the same, the union said.

The Montreal Police Brotherhood will be handing out pamphlets as part of a campaign against ticket quotas.

It plans to distribute information pamphlets that look like tickets and is asking people to contact Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre to express their dissatisfaction.

Coderre argued the union's campaign is a publicity stunt to gain sympathy in its fight against pension reforms. He said the quotas are here to stay.

In November, the city filed a grievance against the police brotherhood asking it to fork over $12.8 million for slowing down on issuing tickets. The city accused police officers of not handing out as many tickets since mid-June as a pressure tactic against the Bill 3 pension reforms. That grievance is still being considered by the Quebec labour relations board.

Coderre said it's not surprising people don't like getting tickets, but added that setting quotas ensures police officers are productive.

"They have a job to do," he said. "I fully respect their job. They are there to serve and protect, and that's part of the job."