NYPD Writing More Traffic Tickets

Jenny Ye and Kat Aaron analyze the most recent data from the NYPD on the enforcement of moving violations in precincts around the city. As reported by Ye and Aaron, the data from February 2014 represents the first month of enforcement under Mayor Bill De Blasio’s Vision Zero plan, which instructs police to “’[increase] enforcement against dangerous moving violations, including speeding, failing to yield to pedestrians, signal violations, improper turns/disobeying signage, and phoning/texting while driving.’ The plan also specifically directs police to ‘increase speeding enforcement at the precinct level.’”

Ye and Aaron point out that although many precincts around New York City greatly increased the level of enforcement of traffic violations, the bar set in February 2013 was low. For instance: “In Brooklyn’s 84th precinct, which covers Boerum Hill and Brooklyn Heights, officers wrote just 10 tickets for speeding, failure to yield and ignoring a signal combined. This year, they have issued more than 100.” And it was just earlier this year when the NYPD made news for rough treatment of an octogenarian jaywalker.

The article also includes an interactive map broken down to the precinct level showing how enforcement compares to last year.