The city’s police-officers union is cracking down on the number of “get out of jail free” courtesy cards distributed to cops to give to family and friends.
Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association boss Pat Lynch slashed the maximum number of cards that could be issued to current cops from 30 to 20, and to retirees from 20 to 10, sources told The Post.
The cards are often used to wiggle out of minor trouble such as speeding tickets, the theory being that presenting one suggests you know someone in the NYPD.
The rank and file is livid.
“They are treating active members like s–t, and retired members even worse than s–t,” griped an NYPD cop who retired on disability. “All the cops I spoke to were . . . very disappointed they couldn’t hand them out as Christmas gifts.”
A source said Lynch ordered the cutback to stop the sale of the cards, which were being hawked on eBay last week for as much as $200.
The PBA and the NYPD declined comment.
------ “There is no fate that cannot be surmounted by scorn.” -Albert Camus
1. "This has been going on for a very long time" In response to Reply # 0
I had heard that certain stickers on your car could help get the same result. Stuff like "Friends of the FOP" or something like that.
It doesn't surprise me thought.
>What in the entire fuck is this shit? > >https://nypost.com/2018/01/21/police-union-slashes-number-of-get-out-of-jail-free-cards-issued/amp/?__twitter_impression=true > > >The city’s police-officers union is cracking down on the >number of “get out of jail free” courtesy cards >distributed to cops to give to family and friends. > >Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association boss Pat Lynch slashed >the maximum number of cards that could be issued to current >cops from 30 to 20, and to retirees from 20 to 10, sources >told The Post. > >The cards are often used to wiggle out of minor trouble such >as speeding tickets, the theory being that presenting one >suggests you know someone in the NYPD. > >The rank and file is livid. > >“They are treating active members like s–t, and retired >members even worse than s–t,” griped an NYPD cop who >retired on disability. “All the cops I spoke to were >. . . very disappointed they couldn’t hand them out as >Christmas gifts.” > >A source said Lynch ordered the cutback to stop the sale of >the cards, which were being hawked on eBay last week for as >much as $200. > >The PBA and the NYPD declined comment.
37. "the ostensible purpose of the card is donations" In response to Reply # 6
when you make a donation to the Police Benevolence Association, you get one of these cards.
The difference here is that the cop friend/relative who gives you this card signs the back of it, which shows the cop who pulled you over that you know a cop, as opposed to having just donated money for the card.
*Jews you*
"this is okp tho, reading is completely optional" (c) desus
8. "Man, stories" In response to Reply # 0 Mon Jan-22-18 11:13 AM by BigReg
Man, stories.
Back in the day my neighbor worked in the Bronx in a botanica (latino focused voodoo/folk store). He indulged heavy in hood proclivities but he was a white Brazilian dude, blue eyes, blond hair and all that and a local older female cop who went to the store often had a crush on him (we were all in our early 20’s at the time).
Ive seen him personally use the card to get out of a DUI, various speeding tickets, etc. He would always start off like, “Yeah, my Godmother XXX works YYY at (whatever) precinct” and boom, small talk and they would let us go, It was wild. The thing is that at the time it was cool as hell and I used to beg him to see if I could get one, now as an adult…wtf? That’s textbook corruption, lol.
This. It's understood that the system is broken. But with these cards, we're talking about illicit behaviors not being penalized and every ticket you DO pay is subsidizing revenue. Like how can you incentivize quotas (which are illegal) with this? Each office gives out 32!!! a year then goes and harasses other people.
This is bullshit.
------ “There is no fate that cannot be surmounted by scorn.” -Albert Camus
22. "He was ALWAYS with older women" In response to Reply # 19
lolz, older meaning around our age now, lol. For those very reasons
>you already know the women coming in there got man problems > >and you helping them, listening to their problems, and >prescribing remedies? > >forget it > >
11. "I had one here is philly..." In response to Reply # 0
(bunch of cops in the family). The one time I used it to get out of a ticket it worked but the cop kept the card. I never asked for another. I had assumed all cops had them.
_________________________________________ "Too weird to live.... too rare to die..."
17. "It's a grotesque abuse of the system. " In response to Reply # 15
Police themselves are already unaccountable to the public, their auxiliaries are too? Then when people run into any issues with the police and have to take it to court, how do you know that they're then accountable.
Add that on to the fact that police forces rarely look like the communities they're to serve, it's just a never ending ball of bullshit.
------ “There is no fate that cannot be surmounted by scorn.” -Albert Camus
20. "I had a PBA card from a detective up in mt vernon, never had" In response to Reply # 0
the chance to use it and probably wouldn't have worked in NYC
the head of security at my company is an official, official breezy point old ex-cop and he gave me one of his cards with a hand-written note on the back. that would have probably got me out of all types of shit but over the years it got lost
21. "Yall ever heard of M&M wrappers on the front dashboard?" In response to Reply # 0
supposedly it was a signal that you knew a meter maid (hence M&M) or had one in your family or whatever, and if a meter maid saw that in the window they wouldn't give you a ticket
supposedly too many people found out so they stopped honring it. I think this was in the 70's or 80's
legsdiamond Member since May 05th 2011 79574 posts
Mon Jan-22-18 02:47 PM
23. "Well damn, who knew OKP’s were so friendly with the law" In response to Reply # 0
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
24. "in cities where all the cops aren't white" In response to Reply # 23
you would be befuddled and bewildered by how common it is grow up with somebody who becomes a cop, have a cop in the family, work with somebody married to a cop, or be dating / married to a cop
doesn't mean you 'friendly with cops'
that's some shit i would have been worried about in my 20s lol
my tongue was planted firmly in my cheek when I typed that.
but it’s funny how half the people in this thread actually have/had the card and shrug like “who doesn’t know about this?”
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
28. "I found out about it from a coworker whose husband was a cop." In response to Reply # 26
We got along and handed me a card and told me it could get me out of trouble, told me he gets some every year. That's how I found out about it being a thing.
I think it was phased out in NYC but you could still see it outside the city in LI or Yonkers, Mt Vernon etc. and probably in the suburbs
legsdiamond Member since May 05th 2011 79574 posts
Mon Jan-22-18 04:08 PM
29. "I get weirded out when someone is married to a cop" In response to Reply # 28
A friend I went to HS with lives in Charlotte and she wanted to link up. Found out her husband is a cop and I’m like “nahhh” I’m good.
Another friend of my wife had a Halloween party. All types of liquor flowing. Jell-O shots. Then I turn around and the host husband is in uniform and I’m like “damn, that’s a convincing costume”. Dude is like “this ain’t a costume, I have to work tonight”
They are everywhere too. I go to my hood bar. Dude is bad cool. Then tells me he is NYPD undercover. We mad cool but one time he goes “so I’m at work, buying weed” and I’m like hold up, ain’t you a cop? He goes.. like I said, I’m buying weed, go around the corner and tell them the description of the dude selling. But this bar is so good we usually smoke weed on the back patio. He’s cool but still. Shit is mad weird.
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
34. "Nah I feel you, took me a little while to get used to" In response to Reply # 29 Mon Jan-22-18 04:29 PM by T Reynolds
My ex-coworker and her husband are Guyanese and he was a regular Under Armour type wearing cat that would hit the park to do a pull-up routine, drove a Japanese car with a spoiler and had the tribal pattern tattoos. Typical Queens dude. Only way I would have got to talk to him was work functions but it's not that hard to find shit you can bullshit about.
Another time I was with my lady's godbrother, Dominican guy, we ended up being real cool, shooting the shit for hours. But certain shit like how he was like 'yeah I got a burner on me right now', and 'yeah, that's why I'm sitting facing the door' but at the same time he's going out to LA getting appointments with Mr. Cartoon for ink and doing the hood shit out there just to do it... it's kinda wild. There's not too much separating these cops from regular hood dudes, but sometimes you wonder if you fuck up one time and forget it could be bad for you.
legsdiamond Member since May 05th 2011 79574 posts
Mon Jan-22-18 04:09 PM
30. "“My family can’t even break the law no mo”" In response to Reply # 27
These fools are so backwards.
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
36. "Not that I agree with their sentiment" In response to Reply # 27
but I wonder if the entitlement comes from that 'card' system being written in the police union contracts somehow. That would be pretty perverse, but I won't be surprised if that was the case.
"Sean sparks like John Starks, nah, Sean ball like John Wall" - Rest In Power Forever Sean Price.
32. "Devil's Advocate here" In response to Reply # 0
Would you pull strings for a friend/family member if you could at your job?
I see criminal offenses disappearing as a huge deal, speeding tickets and the like...eh. Letting DUIs slide (which definitely happen across agencies ie FDNY, Corrections) is huge but I kinda expect it.
I get that police should be held to a higher standard and should set the example, but i think that's the type of things that most folks would do if they were in that situation.
That being said, i remember pba cards being abolished bc of some ticket fixing scandal a few years ago...is this the same thing, or is it the same thing under a different name?
-The Knicks’ coaching search still includes a lone frontrunner, Kurt Rambis, whose qualifications for the position include a strong relationship with Jackson and a willingness to take the job.
35. "Among everything else said in here" In response to Reply # 0
the current 'card' system must been abused pretty badly for noted piece of work Patrick Lynch to be willing to curb the system somehow. I have to wonder how long the 'card' system was abused.
"Sean sparks like John Starks, nah, Sean ball like John Wall" - Rest In Power Forever Sean Price.
38. "my boys pops was an officer. son had the fop shield in his back window." In response to Reply # 0
we got pulled over for speeding in the same state but 3 hours away from his pops department. they asked where we got the shield. my boy said his pops was a member. they asked for his pops details then went to double check. came back to the car and let us skate. they said they had to make sure it wasnt fake (which some people apparently do to get out of a ticket).
39. "liek people have said its not necessarily anything new, the fact that it..." In response to Reply # 0
an official organized thing is different but with NYPD being the largest police department in the world its not really a surprise. The fact that they're being a bunch of whiny babies about it shouldn't be a surprise either.
In some areas officers will just give their personal business card with something hand-written on it. In some places just dropping the right name can get you out of some stuff. My dad used to be involved with local politics and donated to a local police union and they would give him stickers and/or license plate frames. I have a lot of friends and family that work in law enforcement and in certain areas just my name has gotten me out of minor shit.
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