How to issue a citation

My sim spawned in an area where there were no people for the whole day basically -- and only one trashcan. One lady kicked it over, and before I was able to issue a citation she left. Of course, being the smallest area possible (spawned on a 20 x 15 lot), and having barely any people, no one was fighting. I decided to try to fight someone myself, and got the red dislike bar up halfway, and still wasn't able to fight her! Well, lucky for me, I didn't get a promotion, and got a full on 23 bucks from all that work! :/