Monday, January 7, 2013

Get-out-of-jail-free cards sold online


From the NY Post:

Buying a “get out of jail free” card is just a mouse click away — and city officials are horrified.

Police union cards that cops hand out to friends and family free of charge are selling on eBay for as much as $100 a pop, even though the resale of the coveted plastic is strictly prohibited by the unions.

The cards are often used to get out of minor jams like speeding tickets or parking violations — flashing one with your driver’s license is a way of suggesting you’re a member of law enforcement or at least related to someone who is.

“It’s a way for a police officer to vouch for another person,” said City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. “That type of recommendation shouldn’t be available to the highest bidder.”

But as a Post reporter discovered, purchasing police union cards — Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, Detectives’ Endowment Association, the Lieutenants Benevolent Association and the Sergeants Benevolent Association are all listed — is as easy as logging on to eBay, charging it to a credit card or PayPal and receiving it in the mail.

Councilman Dan Garodnick (D-Manhattan), another committee member, suggested that the cards be done away with altogether to avoid ethical breaches like the Bronx ticket-fixing scandal, which resulted in charges against 16 city cops.

“Our traffic laws should not be enforced with winks and nods,” Garodnick said. “I don’t know which is worse, the existence of a get-out-of-jail-free card or the fact that the cards are being hawked on the Internet.”


Note the difference in reaction by Mr. Public Safety and Mr. Garodnick. Vallone thinks that it's ok that the friends and family members of cops are allowed to slide when they break the law, while Garodnick doesn't think anyone should.

“It’s a way for a police officer to vouch for another person.”

I'm sure the cannibal cop, the rapist cops and the cop who stole and sold other cops' guns had courtesy cards, too...

20 comments:

Jerry Rotondi said...

What about those "keep out of jail cards" that shady developers (like Tommy Huang) flash around when they're in trouble?

These are much more complicated affairs--not printed on paper or encased in plastic.

Politicians and judges CAN BE BOUGHT (perhaps not on eBay ) but through campaign contributions or bribes. Then, if ever needed, at some future date--they're only a phone call away.

I'm sure that the recently retired, local king pin congressman, Gary Ackerman could teach a master class on how to curry favor by the passing and accepting of $$$$$!

Suzannah B. Troy artist said...

http://suzannahbtroy.blogspot.com/2013/01/nypd-post-nypd-parking-protection-for.html?m=1

Anonymous said...

LOL!
Mr. "Public Safety" Vallone...but WHO will keep us safe from the voracious Vallones?

Anonymous said...

The Vallones have been "sliding" for decades.

I'll bet that Pete junior's grand dad, Charles Vallone
(a judge) fixed many a parking ticket back in the day.

If Don Pietro "junior" Vallone becomes our borough president, you'll see his major campaign contributers...DEVELOPERS...get away with murder!

Anonymous said...

“It’s a way for a police officer to vouch for another person.” Whatever happened to "Equal justice under law?" This is petty corruption, plain and simple. It's always been part of the entitlement mindset of cops that these cards exist and matter.

Anonymous said...

But its Queens - and the rules are different here than in the rest of the city.

Just glance around after you cross the Koch or Kennedy Bridge will tell you that you are not in Manhattan anymore.

Anonymous said...

ALLEGED canibal cop...

Anonymous said...

No one should have this type of recommendations, not even the cops themselves, less their relatives and friends, no one should be above the law, if you commit a misdemeanor or violations you have to pay the price.

We already have the diplomatic community in NYC owing hundreds of thousands in parking tickets and violations of all sorts, politicians as well.

The city needs the money and the people need the safety that violators will be prosecuted no matter what.

Anonymous said...

Koch Bridge? Kennedy Bridge? These do not exist.

Anonymous said...

I don't get it. First off I agree that this is criminal to allow someone toget away with a crime (even if it's petty) because they are a cop or worse the relative of a cop.

Having said that how friggin hard is it to create one of these bad boys and stuff into your wallet?

I think I'll go to work on that right now, I don't need E-Bay I have a color printer myself, thanks.


Anonymous said...

vallone's developers have been getting away with alot of things for years that is the truth -- all in astoria with apartment buildings

Anonymous said...

.”Whatever happened to "Equal justice under law?"
---------------------------------
Are you serious? This is Queens!

Anonymous said...

These courtesy cards have been around for decades. The only way to stop a cop from extending such a "courtesy" would be to have a supervisor or someone from IAB present at every incident. Practical? Not at all.
And notice, the City Council seems to be only concerned about the sale of these cards over the internet. All of the local politicans receive stacks of these cards to pass around like party favors.

Anonymous said...

These cards are for simple infractions,not crimes.They must have a name and a phone number,for instant I.D. If the holder of the card is an a$$hole (and many are) all bets are off..............

Anonymous said...

The cards should be eliminated - it's all a scam - make it illegal so that a cop does not have to bear a responsibility to look the other way when someone holding the card is caught in a crime or infraction of any sort. No brainer.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
These cards are for simple infractions,not crimes.

Who the hell are you to think that someone has the right to pull out a card to get away with "simple infractions"?

What is wrong with people?

Anonymous said...

Anon above........... the cop still has discretion to write or not. Are you telling me that no one on this blog(or someone they knoW) has ever been cut a break?

Queens Crapper said...

The question is more has anyone with one of these cards ever not been given a break?

Anonymous said...

Breaks are given to those whose credentials display the propensity to fight back, making the bully crapper suffer for writing a ticket. The form of the credentials is irrelevant. The most effective one is working for major media.

Anonymous said...

Crapper i can say yes,many have not been given a break............