Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Yankees Tickets For Ticket Fixers!
By
Ben Yakas
Published May 11, 2011
Modified May 11, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published May 11, 2011
Modified May 11, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
In the past month, it has been revealed that more than 400 cops could be facing disciplinary charges in a massive ticket-fixing scheme, the implications of which could have negative consequences for many criminal cases. But while the president of one of the NYPD's biggest unions has said that "the culture of extending courtesies to members and their families within the NYPD has existed since the day the very first summons was ever written," we sincerely doubt that it's always been a courtesy for cops to receive Yankees tickets for killing summonses.
According to the News, at least six cops in the probe were given field-level tickets to Yankees games as a "thank you" for making speeding and red-light violations disappear, specifically in the 40th, 48th and 52nd precincts. "One cop would ask the other to take care of a ticket and set him up with seats to show his appreciation. It was something done as a 'thank you'...a favor for a favor," one source told them. Last year, former Governor Paterson was fined over $62K for accepting and receiving five complimentary tickets to Game One of the 2009 World Series.
"They were getting choice seats for getting rid of the tickets, or in some cases not showing up in court. These are seats that would have cost a bundle. Several hundred bucks and higher in some cases," the source added. Officers in Manhattan and Queens also scored tickets to Mets and Giants games for getting rid of moving violations, but getting Mets tickets seems more like a punishment than anything else to us.
Tagged
cops
nypd
ticket-fixing scheme
tickets
Yankees
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Plainclothes ICE agent with long gun looked like mass shooter, Mayor Mamdani says
The mayor said his administration would review ICE and NYPD actions surrounding Thursday’s shooting.
By
Michael Sol Warren
Published Oct 11, 2026 at 1:49 p.m. ET
NJ Transit riders face 5 weeks of schedule disruptions starting Sunday
NJ Transit and Amtrak riders should prepare for cancellations, schedule changes and longer commutes as work continues on the new Portal North Bridge.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
NJ Transit riders face 5 weeks of schedule disruptions starting Sunday
NJ Transit and Amtrak riders should prepare for cancellations, schedule changes and longer commutes as work continues on the new Portal North Bridge.
By
Giulia Heyward
For a Democrat in a traditionally red NJ district, how to woo Republican voters
By
Mike Hayes
2 pedestrians killed in Bronx crash after driver ran red light, police say
By
Brittany Kriegstein
and
Ann Givens
Rain could put a damper on NYC’s long weekend. Here’s when it will clear.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .