NYC cop sues over ‘get out of jail free’ cards used to avoid traffic tickets

A New York City police officer is taking legal action against the department over what he calls the “get out of jail free” cards that are given to the friends and family members of cops.

Traffic cop Mathew Bianchi is accusing his superiors of retaliating against him for handing out citations to multiple drivers despite being presented with the “courtesy cards.”

Mr. Bianchi said he first witnessed the cards on duty during a traffic stop in November 2018.

He says in his lawsuit that the Police Benevolent Association, the city’s largest police union that distributes the cards, warned him he would lose union protection if he kept doling out tickets to cardholders.

Mr. Bianchi says in his lawsuit that his enforcement ethics resulted in a demotion last September when he gave a ticket to a card-carrying friend of NYPD Chief of Police Jeffrey Maddrey.

The demotion involved moving Mr. Bianchi from his daytime traffic shift to night patrol.

The traffic cop’s lawsuit, filed last month, argues that the NYPD violated his free speech rights to speak out about an issue of public concern.

More specifically, the lawsuit argues that the courtesy cards represent “widespread corruption, illegal practices and the manipulation of issuance” of traffic tickets. The subjects of the lawsuit are the city and a police captain who wasn’t named in reports.

The cards are often used to avoid tickets in low-level offenses, including running a red light or speeding.

In theory, the cards are meant for family and friends close to the police officer who purchased them. The lawsuit says officers can buy 30 per year for only $1. 

Mr. Bianchi contends the cards are exchanged for small favors, such as meal discounts.

“I see card after card. You’re not allowed to write any of them [up],” the traffic cop told The Associated Press. “We’re not supposed to be showing favoritism when we do car stops, and we shouldn’t be giving them out because the guy mows my lawn.”