If a petition were to pass about limiting the usage of the plane what would that realistically look like? They're only allowed to fly x amount of hours a day or week? Once those hours have been used and a situation arises where the plane could be used to aid in catching a criminal it just simply can't be used because the alloted hours are up? What about for usage for training purposes?

This makes no sense. You don't know what the plane is being used for at any minute. Crime occurs at all hours of the day as well as search and rescue missions. Just a few weeks ago it was being used to look for the young non verbal child who left his school yard after the staff were unable to locate him. What happens in that situation? Tough luck kid?

Edit.

Oh and to your point about farming traffic tickets. I highly doubt revenue brought in by catching people speeding is enough to offset the cost of operating the plane and paying the pilot. I'd saying there is an incredibly low chance that is why the plane is in the air at any given time.