It’s insane here in kew gardens and forest hills. Over the holidays I saw a family member who is currently NYPD and they shared some context.

Apparently it’s a two factor problem.

1. The NYPD really doesn’t want to engage with low level stuff. Most officers are legit concerned that traffic stops and low level stuff will escalate, and they feel if it does escalate they won’t be backed up by management. Not saying it’s wrong or right, just that it’s where they’re at mentally now.

2. District attorneys can’t really prosecute vehicular stuff. It’s all about proving intent and the way legal statutes are written, it is next to impossible for da’s to prove intent when a car is involved. The example they used was this: someone runs a red light and crashes into a parent and stroller. First you gotta prove the car ran the light, second you gotta prove that there was intent to hit that person and their kid. Morally we know the driver is at fault for running a light, but legally it’s much murkier. The minute the driver says it was an accident, or I didn’t see them, or I thought the light was yellow, etc. it becomes legally challenging to prove much of anything. This is why da’s stay away from these. It harms their stats (I.e. winning cases).

This is why Di blasio wanted a task force outside the NYPD at DOT to investigate car crashes and issue recommendations to the da’s.

Lastly the culture around cars has changed. When I learned how to drive 20-22 years ago, my parents (boomers) were pretty adamant that hitting someone was morally wrong. It was tied to a values system. Nowadays most people relegate accidents to an insurance issue, not a moral one. Hit someone, too bad my insurance will cover it. At worst my premium goes up. That’s the new mentality and it leads to risky behaviors that border in antisocial behavior.