Recently, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) has implemented a new policy targeting traffic violations committed by cyclists, issuing criminal summonses instead of the civil fines that were previously settled through mail or online. This policy has sparked strong backlash from traffic safety advocacy groups, criticizing the city government for “over-policing.”
Violations include running red lights, failure to come to a complete stop at stop signs, and other infractions, which used to incur a fine of $190. Now, individuals must appear in court to face criminal charges, and undocumented immigrants may face the risk of arrest or deportation.
The authorities emphasize that this measure is part of the city government’s “quality of life” enforcement action, aimed at responding to the public complaints regarding behaviors of electric bikes and scooters. According to city data, within the past 6 years, complaints about illegal parking and traffic chaos reported by citizens through 311 have surged, with illegal parking complaints rising by 200%.
Critics are concerned that this policy applies to all types of bicycles, not just electric bikes. During a hearing at the City Council’s Committee on Public Safety, the police clarified that currently criminal summonses are only issued for 6 categories of electric bike violations, including reckless driving, driving under the influence, wrong-way riding, and disobeying traffic signals.
Advocates urge the city government to prioritize improving bicycle infrastructure, such as adding protected bike lanes on high-risk road sections, rather than increasing penalties. They also call on the City Council to legislate regulations against exploitation by delivery platforms and urge the state legislature to pass the “Stop-as-Yield Law,” allowing cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs.
“We aim to create a city where everyone can bike with peace of mind, instead of a place where people are easily incarcerated or expelled,” said Ben Furnas, executive director of the transportation advocacy group “Transportation Alternatives.”