You might not have known it, but the New York Police Department actually launched the Holiday Pedestrian Safety Initiative in December of 2015. Officers were ordered to crackdown on dangerous driving behaviors near senior centers in New York City as part of Mayor Cuomo’s Vision Zero plan. The crackdown follows several pedestrian fatalities involving senior citizens and allegedly reckless drivers.
Behaviors officers were told to look out for include:
- Speeding
- Failing to yield to people in crosswalks
- Texting while driving
- Improper turns
- General traffic light violations
There seems to be noticeable improvement in pedestrian safety across the city. According to law enforcement agencies, pedestrian fatalities in car accidents dropped about 5% in the last year and traffic collision fatalities over all dropped 11%. The question that remains is whether or not the NYPD’s methods of reducing accidents is grounded in fair legal practices and the correct sense of justice.
Possible Profiling Prevents Pedestrian Problems
The Holiday Pedestrian Safety Initiative specifically told law enforcement officers to look for troublesome drivers near senior centers. It even went as far as telling the officers what behaviors to identify. Could such specific targeting actually be profiling? Is it possible that drivers have been handed traffic citations for behaviors that would normally be acceptable by the law but were suddenly deemed “dangerous” due to added stress on the department to issue more citations? The answer is not clear but the fact that there is room to doubt and question the initiative is telling already.
If you were cited or arrested for a traffic violation in New York over the holiday season, you should contact our New York traffic ticket attorneys right away. At Gannes & Musico, LLP, we are dedicated to our clients and 100% focused on traffic violation cases. Find out what our years of experience and unrivaled insight can do for you – call 877.803.2603 today for a free case evaluation!