Comments on: In London They Summons Their Own http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/08/15/in-london-they-summons-their-own/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Hilary http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/08/15/in-london-they-summons-their-own/comment-page-1/#comment-35661 Hilary Fri, 17 Aug 2007 14:10:20 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/08/15/in-london-they-summons-their-own/#comment-35661 As I was crossing the West Side Highway, a traffic policewoman was yelling at a driver on her cell phone. I asked her why she didn't give her a ticket, and she said she wasn't allowed. It seems there could be efficiencies gained if the officers we stick in the middle of traffic were authorized to enforce traffic laws. I think speeding on the city's 'state highways' can only be enforced by special highway police. And am I right that there are a lot of people in uniforms out there who actually have no authority - like auxiliary cops or crossing guards? We have this huge illusion of enforcement out there, largely as a result of 9/11, at the same time it seems like empty show. As I was crossing the West Side Highway, a traffic policewoman was yelling at a driver on her cell phone. I asked her why she didn’t give her a ticket, and she said she wasn’t allowed. It seems there could be efficiencies gained if the officers we stick in the middle of traffic were authorized to enforce traffic laws. I think speeding on the city’s ‘state highways’ can only be enforced by special highway police. And am I right that there are a lot of people in uniforms out there who actually have no authority – like auxiliary cops or crossing guards? We have this huge illusion of enforcement out there, largely as a result of 9/11, at the same time it seems like empty show.

]]> By: JF http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/08/15/in-london-they-summons-their-own/comment-page-1/#comment-35657 JF Fri, 17 Aug 2007 13:05:01 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/08/15/in-london-they-summons-their-own/#comment-35657 Until recently the traffic cops ("Brownies" after the color of their uniforms) were under control of the DOT, but Giuliani merged them (along with the transit police and school security) into the NYPD. I know that the Brownies were hated and harassed by the NYPD, but did they actually enforce any laws against them? Did Giuliani make this worse by bringing the Brownies behind the "Blue Wall" of the NYPD? Until recently the traffic cops (“Brownies” after the color of their uniforms) were under control of the DOT, but Giuliani merged them (along with the transit police and school security) into the NYPD. I know that the Brownies were hated and harassed by the NYPD, but did they actually enforce any laws against them? Did Giuliani make this worse by bringing the Brownies behind the “Blue Wall” of the NYPD?

]]> By: Dave http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/08/15/in-london-they-summons-their-own/comment-page-1/#comment-35656 Dave Fri, 17 Aug 2007 12:45:14 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/08/15/in-london-they-summons-their-own/#comment-35656 I think part of the reason this is possible in London is that they aren't summonsing their own: TfL (something like the DoT or MTA here) I think is responsible for issuing tickets for most minor motor vehicle violations, not the Metropolitan Police. I think part of the reason this is possible in London is that they aren’t summonsing their own: TfL (something like the DoT or MTA here) I think is responsible for issuing tickets for most minor motor vehicle violations, not the Metropolitan Police.

]]> By: MrManhattan http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/08/15/in-london-they-summons-their-own/comment-page-1/#comment-35593 MrManhattan Thu, 16 Aug 2007 00:08:45 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/08/15/in-london-they-summons-their-own/#comment-35593 One primary problem here is that most NYC cops are from outside NYC. We (as New Yorkers) can make all the rules we want. If the people enforcing those rules don't think they should apply, there's nothing we can do about it. Americans love their cars, and the vast majority of our police are from AMERICA. How many pot arrests would you expect if most of our cops were Rastas from Jamaica?? Same thing. Where most of our police come from, driving a car is just a natural, even essential, part of life, to their minds it couldn't possibly be a crime. (until someone is dead) How do we expect them to enforce laws that seem arbitrary and irrelevant to their society, no matter how critical they may be to ours? Don't get me wrong, I'm sure both the Rockland cops and the Rasta cops would equally protect us from murder, robbery and rape. (and we thank them and are indebted to them for it), since there are many universal values we all hold as human beings. But to expect an American to punish someone for a crime involving a car that didn't result in death would be like expecting a Rasta to bust someone for a joint. It's just against both their culture and national identity to do it. One primary problem here is that most NYC cops are from outside NYC.

We (as New Yorkers) can make all the rules we want. If the people enforcing those rules don’t think they should apply, there’s nothing we can do about it. Americans love their cars, and the vast majority of our police are from AMERICA.

How many pot arrests would you expect if most of our cops were Rastas from Jamaica??

Same thing.

Where most of our police come from, driving a car is just a natural, even essential, part of life, to their minds it couldn’t possibly be a crime. (until someone is dead)

How do we expect them to enforce laws that seem arbitrary and irrelevant to their society, no matter how critical they may be to ours?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure both the Rockland cops and the Rasta cops would equally protect us from murder, robbery and rape. (and we thank them and are indebted to them for it), since there are many universal values we all hold as human beings.

But to expect an American to punish someone for a crime involving a car that didn’t result in death would be like expecting a Rasta to bust someone for a joint.

It’s just against both their culture and national identity to do it.

]]> By: lee http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/08/15/in-london-they-summons-their-own/comment-page-1/#comment-35530 lee Wed, 15 Aug 2007 15:34:03 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/08/15/in-london-they-summons-their-own/#comment-35530 ill bet the nypd gets beemers before they start ticketing their own. ill bet the nypd gets beemers before they start ticketing their own.

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