Slump in New York arrests, fines hits traffic lawyers, bail bondsmen

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Slump in New York arrests, fines hits traffic lawyers, bail bondsmen

BY MEGAN DAVIES
NEW YORK Thu Jan 8, 2015 5:07pm EST

(Reuters) - A sharp drop in arrests and fines in New York may prove costly for the city but it could already be hurting some traffic lawyers and bail bonds firms, which are seeing their phones ring less often as fewer people are in trouble and need help.

The slump in arrest volume - last week's total was around half that recorded a year ago - is seen by supporters of new York City Mayor Bill de Blasio as evidence of a work slowdown by police officers angered by recent comments he made that they viewed as anti-police. Police unions say they have not sanctioned a slowdown.

"We're seeing less phone calls, less emails, less faxes from people with tickets that are newly issued," said New York traffic lawyer Matthew Weiss. "It started at the beginning of the year." Revenues for his New York City traffic ticket business - including moving violations and criminal matters - are down roughly 30 percent to 40 percent since the end of December.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/08/us-usa-police-arrests-idUSKBN0KH0BT20150108

[yeoman6987]

1. They are trying to bankrupt the city

I hope the Mayor has a backup plan for more revenue AND a response when the financial situation gets bigger so he isn't blamed.

[msanthrope]

5. Hiring freeze on the NYPD. Start clearing the rolls. Cancel the academy class. nt

[madville]

7. Law Enforcement should never be about generating revenue

I'm not feeling very sympathetic that the bottom feeders who cash in on peoples' legal ailments are feeling a little pinch.

[Stellar]

20. Well said!

[Fred Sanders]

9. This will not bankrupt the city.

[msanthrope]

2. And still...no anarchy in the streets from fewer minorities being harassed. nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. yup

[Rex]

8. IKR!?

Think the M$M will bring up that key fact I wish was getting out more? Where are the burnt out husks of cars and buildings from rampaging mobs!?

Less cops = more crime and mayhem. That is what the NYPD said, so it must be true.

IMO, this is the NYPDs "bigger than Jesus" moment.

[former9thward]

12. There are not less cops.

They are just not issuing revenue tickets.

[msanthrope]

13. Well, in fact there are less cops on the streets. The force remains intact, but I've noticed a shit

load fewer cops around.

[former9thward]

16. I don't know where they are at

but I seriously doubt commanders are having them sit around stations.

[msanthrope]

17. Cops who want to blow off work have lots of options. Trust me on this. nt

[madinmaryland]

23. They're at Dunkin Donuts. nt

[Rex]

21. Okay, so there is less law enforcement going on and less of an appearance

of a police force on the streets. If cops are all that keep us from living in total anarchy, then we should see some negative blowback from these cops not enforcing laws and showing a smaller presence of force on the streets. They said so themselves...without the NYPD, NYC would fall into chaos. So far that has not happened and there are no signs that crime is spiking due to opportunity.

Could it be that for the most part, people are civilized enough NOT to destroy their own city? The NYPD fucked up and said they were all that matters and now they are finding out that is not true. Not even close.

[Fred Sanders]

10. From thousands of arrests a day of mainly minorities to near zero, and still no anarchy? Is the

NRA far behind in hawking guns to New Yorkers to protect against the sure at any moment to knock down their doors barbarians everywhere?

[Nuclear Unicorn]

14. Technically it could be called anarchy.

It's just that anarchy isn't as bad as we have been led to believe.

[msanthrope]

15. Anarchy seems to be pretty much like everyday life then.....nt

[Nuclear Unicorn]

18. You know what astounds me about this whole spectacle?

Fewer arrests may mean less revenue from fines but it should then correlate to fewer criminal justice resources being required. Fewer jails, fewer court costs, etc.

That seems to me it should be budget neutral...but I think we all know that isn't true. That means prosecuting people is a means of generating revenue, people are being criminalized by the very system presumably instituted with their consent for their protection.

I'm finding it hard to see a downside to this.

[msanthrope]

22. The NYPD made their money doing summary offenses....tickets, fines, summonses. This made high-

profit margin cash. They really think they are going to choke the city off. It's extortion.

[NightWatcher]

24. Then fewer cops driving fewer cars. Fewer lawsuit payouts from rights violations

As long as the city streets don't turn to mass hysteria, I think the people of NYC will be ok. Hell, maybe the citizens wil act nicer accordingly.

[RobertEarl]

4. What a shame!!

Less people getting hassled means less work for the vultures. The economy will take a big hit!!

[Dont call me Shirley]

6. They'll just have to find a new way to earn a living, like those whose jobs were shipped overseas

during the first decade of the millennia.

[jeff47]

11. I almost feel sorry for them.

Almost.....almost.....nope, lost it.

[SunSeeker]

19. People being thrown in jail is a lot worse for the economy.

People losing jobs because of arrests, throwing their family into poverty, has much worse consequences for the economy.

Even having to deal with tickets/citations means lost time from work at least a day, not to mention the fines. Instead of paying fines, people are pumping that money back into the economy.

I think this will benefit the NYC economy.