NYPD Priorities in Action: Keep Traffic Moving, Pedestrians Be Damned

Yesterday we saw what it looks like when police value pedestrian safety and enforce the integrity of the crosswalk. That’s how they roll in Sacramento. Here in New York, the NYPD’s priorities are a little different.

Clarence Eckerson recently shot this clip at the intersection of Canal and Lafayette. As you can see, an officer crossing the street with other pedestrians noticed a vehicle blocking the box (and a bike lane). Instead of giving the driver a summons, he proceeded to hold up everyone who had the right of way and wave the car through the crosswalk, directly into the path of at least one person on foot. All in a day’s work for New York’s finest.

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78th Precinct Targets Drivers Who Fail to Yield to Pedestrians

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Last week, Police Commissioner Bratton said the 78th Precinct and its commanding officer, Deputy Inspector Michael Ameri, made him “proud of PD” by clearing snow from the Bergen Street bike lane. Here’s something even better: The 78th has amped up enforcement against drivers committing one of the city’s deadliest traffic violations — failing to yield to pedestrians […]