By COLlive reporter
Jewish residents of Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood are accusing the 71st Precinct of the New York Police Department of being insensitive to the community.
A community activist, who asked not to be named until the matter is clear, said he is getting reports about heavy ticketing for seemingly minor traffic violations.
“I’ve received many phone calls in the last day or so, of people complaining they were pulled over for the smallest of reasons – ie: stopping a bit into the crosswalk at an intersection, or passing a yellow line,” he told COLlive.com.
He said the officers seemed to have been “racially profiling and targeting Chassidic Jewish drivers, pulling many drivers over and issuing summonses.”
“In recent years there were incidents that occurred that were proven to be racial profiling of drivers in our neighborhood by the 71st Precinct,” he added. “I truly hope this is not a reoccurrence of those incidents by our local officers.”
Deputy Inspector George Fitzgibbon, Commanding Officer of the 71st Precinct, was new at job when he was asked by COLlive.com in an November 2013 interview about excessive ticketing on Fridays and on the eve of Jewish holidays.
This is what he responded then: “I will look into it and get a breakdown of why they are being issued. If it’s safety or hazard issues, we will weigh it and come to some conclusion. We also have to find out if they are really excessive…”
The activist asked that If anyone has a similar complaint of being pulled over in the last few days, they should share it in the comments and note the date and time it happened to determine if there is a bias trend.
The 71st Precinct did not respond to a request for comment.
UPDATE (Sunday, 2:40 PM):
Officer Vinny Martinos of the 71st Precinct says the enforcement is not limited to the Jewish area, but in fact is being done by the 77th Precinct at Flatbush Avenue.
He said the reason is growing number of accidents in the area.
“13 pedestrians were struck in 2013 in the area of Eastern Parkway from Kingston to Schenectady Avenues, and that’s a very large number for such a small area,” he said.
“This is not being done to target the Jewish area,” he stated. “When there’s an area where drivers are not careful, police begin issuing summonses, which gets the drivers to be more careful, which leads to less accidents.”
He pointed out that Crown Heights’ Kingston Avenue is “one of the worst stretches when it comes to accidents.”
The 13 pedestrians were hit from cars driving on Eastern Parkway.
Why are they stopping cars coming up Kingston Av?
Out of the 13 pedestrians 8 were hit on Shabbos/Yom tov (including 5 on Rosh Hashana) – Jews don’t drive those days.
Why are they stopping JEWS?
the cops are doing what there told to do they say sorry but they cant not give you a ticket for not putting your blinker on for a second its the law ! doesnt anyone agree with me?
today i saw i police driving and talking on the phone i would call them hippocrits who agrees?
I think that the cops that give tickets out for NO reason – need to be corrected. On the other hand everybody has to be careful for safety reasons and some cops – some GOOD cops are here to help us and keep us safe. I totally disagree with ticketing innocent people though.
I work in Manhatan and sometimes I drive to work, and I see people getting tickets all the time, all sorts of people so I dont think that the cops are just ticketing people in ch, my son never gets tickets because he is a very cautious driver and he does not double park like a lot of people do on Kingston Avenue
Got to agree with #59
Hurts to hear it I bet – but sadly true.
So many of these comments are so baseless and mindless.
However, I do agree the obnoxious tickets given by a few arrogant officers are downright wrong – for that we need to mobilize and explain to the powers that be.
What abt alternate side parking?? Ep has 6 days a week ??
You said stuff that I agree with, but I will never say. It’s a worthless compulsion that keeps us binded.
The judge will NOT! admit a picture of a sign. They will claim that you “photoshopped” the picture! I tried it and lost. Again, I am all for cops ensuring safe driving, but the ticketing on Jewish blocks is clearly done aggressively, while colored blocks are left alone.
Reading these comments is a joke and a symptom of our insistence on inflicting ghettoism upon ourselves to segregate ourselves far far from the horrible influence of the evil goyim and kushim. How do we know other ethnic groups aren’t being equally scrutinized? We don’t. And we never would because we would never interact with them to find out. Instead we use anecdotal evidence like “cars in front of churches don’t get tickets”. First off, parking rules are few if any on Sunday., smart guy. Second, you observing once or twice means it happens 24/7? The world revolves around us… Read more »
Double parking is dangerous. A child was killed crossing the street a number of years ago, she was trying to see past a double parked car and got hit. the car was only there for thirty seconds at pick up time but the tragedy still happened. the cops are doing their job and trying to keep our streets cleaner and safer.
When you drive, you also have to worry about not getting caught by the cameras that you can get for going through a light or making an illegal turn, or any other franction you can get for driving illegally, this is a billion dollar business for the city giving out tickets.
i always see cops driving and talking on the phone i dont get that either
Many time while i am driving, i see cops driving and talking on a cell, am i at risk if i make them a remark that it’s dangerous for them too?
Everything is true if someone can just video and document all this information being posted here.
I drive all over just like you and there are NOOOOO Police anywhere! When I get into crown heights i feel like i have to stop even on green lights bec there are so many cops everywhere!
only time i saw more cops around NY was today ONLY!They were literally EVERYWHERE!
ALTERNATE PARKING ON THE JEWISH BLOCKS OF CROWN ST. ARE BETWEEN 12 & 1:30. THEY STAND AND WATCH AND IF YOU ARE A MINUTE LATE YOU WILL BE TICKETED. IF YOU DON’T MOVE BACK FROM DOUBLE PARKING AT 1:30 THE SAME WILL HAPPEN. IF YOU DRIVE DOWN CROWN BETWEEN ROGERS AND BEDFORD WHEN THEY HAVE ALTERNATE ( 8:00-9:30) YOU WILL SEE MANY CARS ON THE WRONG SIDE AND NEVER SEE THEM GETTING TICKETS-WHAT BETTER PROOF OF RACIAL PROFILING AGAINST THE JEWISH/WHITE POPULACE. I DRIVE TO WORK THIS WAY AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS ON END. THIS SHOULD… Read more »
Do the 13 pedestrians struck in 2013 include 5 that were waiting by the corner on rosh hashana this year? !?!
if you count up the amount of tickets people in this comment thread said they have got and do the math you will then understand why the city gives out so many tickets, and WHERE they give out so many tickets. There is a GOLD mine of ticket money in this comment thread alone. Most of the people here saying they got these tickets in the last week or last couple months. Wow. That is a LOT of money. Funny thing is, I travel a lot locally for my work and from here to five towns, from here to boro… Read more »
I got pulled over Friday afternoon when I inquired why I was being pulled over I was told improper turn which was totaly not the case… How in the world can I prove this its my word against his???
I don’t get it, he deserved the ticket. What’s he complaining about?!
this is to address our 2 community activists; we know that you are very busy but no excuse to avoid a phone call many times regarding the snide remarks given to a jewish lady at the voting polls loudly and accusing me of coming way late!! not true.please call my number on your phone and then call 7187978800 and correct the amount changed by the coordinator, mrytle of 13/43.This poll worker was very helpful to a couple in 580 crown St to vote properly and not on an affidavit as the other wrong workers told them to. thanks in advance… Read more »
To # 1 and any others with similar incidents: please call me at 718-419-8757. I had an identical experience near 770 on Friday and with the help of a politically connected individual we are trying to gather all the reports of these incidents. Thank you.
A friend of mine who came to NY from across the country for a (shidduch) date, was ticketed for forgetting to put on his headlights. He apologized profusely to cop yet cop had no interest. Just ticketed him. Felt so bad for him.
If you get a ticket on a muni meter while putting money in the meter, you have a 5 minute grace period. This means that if you get a ticket you can fight it if you have a muni meter receipt that was within 5 minutes after you got the ticket.
Racial profiling isn’t just against blacks and hispanics as is commonly thought. Watch out for two black female cops who live to give tickets for minor violations in the Jewish area. I was ticketed for double parking for 90 seconds. I had to run into the lobby of a building to pick up my children. P.O. Smith was so rude, so nasty, so aggressive, she gave the ticket with such an angry attitude….71st precinct should try to use Asian, Hispanic, or White cops. I have experienced the most consistently resentful attitude with black female cops . The 71st precinct worked… Read more »
I was on eastern parkway making a left onto kingston ave waiting for cars to pass and pedestrians as well. When the moment came i made the left but waited as a pedestrian finished crossing another person was approaching the crosswalk but i had plenty of time to make the turn and the pedestrian was in no harm whatsoever. A cop pulled me over and gave me a ticket with a massive fine and points on my license and said that someone was entering the crosswalk and therefore i was in violation. This is so absurd, i completely understand that… Read more »
On 1/16/13
I noticed that every beginning of the month and every ends of the month the traffic police or regular police issued more tickets in general to Rich their goals … It’s hard to prove the policeman statement ” from my observation the driver was using telephone /making illigal maneuver …/etc ” , its impossible to fight in the court … The new city program to fight with speed misdemeanors… Even a mile or few more its misdemeanor … So drive according the speed limit specially in school zones … Saw that all Sunday double parking cars have a special pass… Read more »
someone who turns w/o waiting for a pedestrian deserves a ticket…my children and i have almost been runover way too many times to count from cars coming around the corner in a rush to catch the light
This has been going on for as long as I can remember. I generally park my car near Utica, walking over a block to get it, so that I won’t get an improper or ‘overly zealous’ ticket. When my registration renewal came a few days late (yes I mailed it out on time), I got a ticket early morning of the first day it was late on Union and Kingston. I then parked it past Utica and guess what? No ticket for two days until the renewal came. Sure, they had every right to give me a ticket, but they… Read more »
I was ticketed in front of mikvah Mayer Erevan shabbos while paying at the meter last week.
First I suggest u to go and get a pic of the sign and tell the judge it is not visible , however chances are it will not work,
Also if it is a moving violation within the first 6 months of your licsence u can get into probation I suggest u getting a traffic lawyer.
About a month ago I got pulled over on Empire and Flatbuh for making an “improper turn.”
Basically when I was trying to get into the right turning lane (to turn onto Ocean ave) the car next to me pushed me out of the turning lane and there was no choice but to turn with those cars. I just took the ticket, never argue it, but honestly when I looked up the ticket code on the NYC gov website, all it says is to be as close as possible to the curb when turning.
I got a cell phone ticket wasnt on cell phone..In court cop lied hru his teeth that i was using cellphone u cant wint
I got two tickets on my parked car within two days. (It’s a typical Jewish minivan looking car) Once for an expired inspection-It was not expired. Once for a small crack in the front window which was apparent that a pebble must’ve fallen on the window. In the end I fought them both and they were dismissed. It was just really frustrating and inconvenient to go through the process of taking pictures and writing letters. I definitely feel like they come up and down our very Jewish street on a constant basis looking for things to ticket about. 2 times… Read more »
I agree with you… every sunday and every other day and 71st pct never issues 1 ticket to crown heights churches
I was pulled over on Eastern Parkway and Flatbush (at GAP) for “using a cell phone.” I showed the cop my phone, tucked securely in my belt holder (no, I wasn’t using it!). He just slapped me with a ticket and told me to move on! The only way to fight these (I know, I was in traffic court already) is to get a LAWYER who specializes in traffic court. They can’t win, but they know how to postpone your hearing date (you can’t do this yourself for some reason) until the “points on your license” expire. You still have… Read more »
same thing happened to me to on Wednesday night.
yesterday Friday January 18, I was driving on Albany and Union st. ready to make a turn into my ally, this was 5 minutes to shabbos,the cops signaled with their lights for me to pull over. I couldn’t figure out what I did wrong. They finally told me that I have expired registration. I had things to still do before shabbos and they could not care less, they made me wait 20 minutes to write out the ticket and I barely made it home for shabbos!
get a dashboard camera – might come in handy
Complain there’s no cops then complain too many cops! Don’t be too vocal about this learn the laws drive safely and be happy there presence is there! Scares away the real crap.
Friday Jan. 18, I was driving on Eastern pkwy service lane, as I reached Albany ave. I stopped at stop sign took the phone off the attachment to press a contact, and as I was putting the phone back I was startled when a cop knocked on my window and told me to pull to the side. He ticked me… I have a very clean record, I never get tickets…I told him I was at a stop sign. I have an attachment I always use, and took the phone off for a split second at the stop sign…he didn’t care…seemed… Read more »
one morning head light burnt out (literally that morning),i had to get kids for school..cop didnt care and made me stay TWENTY minutes til he finiiished his ticket maase and …
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double parked on Montgomery nd albany just like everyone else by street cleaning..Only I got a ticket nd st cleaning was not even over yet..there was no fire hydrent, driveway,corner or anytrhing! and i left space for car next to me to be able to get out too..
Supposedly there is a sign to not make a left turn onto Washington from Lincoln by Flatbush Ave. That sign is IMPOSSIBLE to see especially at night, which is when I was pulled over and ticketed. The cops are just sitting there waiting to get people. They said this sign has been there for 3 months now. I really did not see or know about this sign. Isn’t there anything to be done about it. This is my first offense and I just started driving. It is really unfair. This happened last Thurs, 1/15/14 at 11:30 PM. If anyone knows… Read more »
I was driving w/o my lights after shopping and I got stopped.
I kind of acted dimwitted and the cop was sweet and let me go.
Leave ch leave ny.! Or stay cuz chjcc is here to take care of everything…. What a puppet
I was driving around 9:30 and saw one cop pulling someone over on Eastern parkway and Brooklyn Ave, then another pulled someone over on Eastern parkway and Kingston. Then I made a right turn on Albany ave and saw another cop pulled someone over on Albany and union. Within 3 blocks 3 people getting pulled over first thing Friday morning? They’re definitely out to get us
While I am totally FOR giving tickets for speeding or dangerous driving which we have…some of these petty tickets are downright wrong and do border on racial profiling.
I am hoping the powers that be realize and address the problem intelligently very soon.
I live across EP in a more “black” area and I dont get tickets even for alternate side parking. I have left my car a few times and never got a ticket and never get tickets for double parking.. If i double park for 10 seconds on montgomery I get a ticket!!
Maybe double park and wait for a police car to pull up behind you and walk over to their car and be like “thank you for coming i need your help to unload my car…” they will run..
I forgot to turn on my headlights after leaving a gas station. I explained to the officer that it was an honest mistake and he gave me a ticket anyways.
Last Sunday while I double parked on Montgomery corner troy to get something from my house.
I left the car for literally 90seconds and left the hazard lights on, 2 passengers stayed in the car (one of them with a lisnce), I come out and I see a NYPD car behind mine with the lights off and the driver motions to me not to move then the passenger cop (both were colored females) comes out and hands me a ticket!!
Double parking getting a 1 year old child. Every sunday hundreds of cars double park for hours on empire . Ocean ave . Nostrand . Montgomery and nobody will get a ticket. I stopped for 1 minute to make it safe for my child while I was at the car I got a ticket
Every friday afternoon around Shabbos my husband sees a ticketing cop writing tickets for cars parked on Kingston. Mind you this is already in the 18 minutes or sometimes even after. I don’t understand why the CH activists haven’t fought to have parking meters expire by 3pm on fridays? He even spoke to the cop and told her it was not nice to come here knowing the residents can’t move their cars or pay the meters as our Sabbath already came in. She ignored him of course. If someone is really going to speak to the 71st precinct I would… Read more »
77 precinct nypd now park their vehicle right infront of the Kingston subway catching people speeding on eastern parkway!
New scam… Giving tickets for improper turns. The turns are legal, it becomes your word against theirs. Now you need to waste a day fighting the ticket for the chance to maybe win the injustice.
Do not talk to the cops, Do not try to argue your way out our else it is a Medical Emergency.
Anything you say may and will be used against you at the court of law!!!!
so just stay quiet take the ticket and fight it in court, the more you speak the more the cop writes in his notes.
Just this Friday a mother picking up her daugher at Bais Rivka on Lefferts was ticketed for parking illegally for 2 minutes Every single morning and afternoon at Catholicschool on President corner Brooklyn cars are illegally parked to pick up kids…Never saw a ticket given Even saw police cars driving by and never ever stopping to ticket….antisemitism is alive and well
Here? In Utopia AKA Crown Heights?? I can’t believe it. Not with Chani a getting his face in every picture. Surely not!
As a pedestrian, I am pleased the cops are ticketing more. Walking around this neighborhood is hellish and downright dangerous due to the lousy driving and complete inconsideration of most drivers. Clearly, mentschlichkeit it not a priority, so if tickets is what it takes, I fully approve.
This past shabbos i was walking with my daughter crossing president and kingston , we were in middle of intersection and cop came to make a left turn, instead of waiting he made the widest turn possible in order to avoid waiting for me and my daughter to cross. Mind you we were already in middle of the intersection. While having a safe community is a good thing , it is coming with unforseen consequences of more and more ticketing, watching the cops walk down the street as soon as shabbos starts or an hour before shabbos ends looking to… Read more »
Your right.
I was making a left from e NY ave and got a ticket for making a left when a car was on the other side. Problem was we were both at a RED and the guy waived to me to go ahead and make the left and when I did the cop who was behind him and did not see the african american fellow wave me to go ticketed me….
I also got a ticket 2 years for talking on a CELL when i left my cell at home and I was drinking a bottle of soda.
and the cops don’t suspend the license…they just told the driver that he was driving without a license to drive…where’s the ‘chutzpa’ here?
Comments from residents should be taken seriously, but not when they’re made in ignorance and complete disregard for authority.
As the saying goes, “Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely”, the more laws there are, the more power to the police, the more they will be corrupted, don’t allow the government too much power because it will ultimately be used against us.
First they start with smoking, then they move to soda drinking, then it’s stop and frisk, Metzitzah b’peh, and now ticketing.
See the pattern?
Al Tisvada Loroshus…
A whole summer the church on Empire and NY has their festival with cars double and illegal parking every weekend. No one gets ticketed. Compared to what goes on on Purim we are definitely profiled (or they are given a free pass).
why is it on Erev Shabbos when shabbos is coming in in the summer there is still meter in effect on kingston, ticketing all cars parked for shabbos. When on Nostrand Ave all along with the new bus lanes and the left lane along with the center supposed to be open at rush hour, there is never a cop to be seen anywhere, cars stopping, and parked all over the place and not one cop in sight that is enforcing it. Even during meter time, there is an excessive amount of police presence handing out tickets for expired meters in… Read more »
Um actually the pedestrian has right of way. Learn the traffic laws. I hate it when cars don’t let me cross.
I was with my friend who made a left turn on President street off Kingston and was pulled over for “not waiting for Pedestrian to cross” when is retrospect the driver did NOTHING wrong according to the law to be pulled over!
Then after he was pulled over they had the Chutzpah to tell him that his License was Suspended!
i Hope the Community makes a Shturem about this and there should be a Protest in front of the 71st precinct!