Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
NYPD Wildly Inconsistent With Traffic Enforcement, Study Says
By
Lauren Evans
Published Jul 31, 2014
Modified Jul 31, 2014
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 .
Gothamist
By
Lauren Evans
Published Jul 31, 2014
Modified Jul 31, 2014
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
Enforcement of two of drivers' most dangerous behaviors—speeding and failure to yield—has increased dramatically in the six months since Mayor de Blasio introduced his Vision Zero initiative. But while the number of summonses issued has ballooned dramatically in some precincts, it has stagnated and even slowed in others.
The enforcement analysis comes from a newly released study from the advocacy group Transportation Alternatives.
Overall, the study shows that summonses for speeding have increased 32 percent over the past six months compared to last year, while failure to yield summonses have skyrocketed by 153 percent.
But transit advocates are troubled by serious inconsistencies, particularly in adjacent precincts—while the officers in one precinct may be ticketing diligently, their efforts are somewhat in vain when officers in the adjoining precinct fail to match their vigilance, despite similarities in street designs and traffic conditions.
The study cites Harlem's 26th precinct, which nearly doubled the number of speeding summonses issued from the same time last year, while the neighboring 30th precinct in Washington Heights cut its speeding summonses in half.
"This inconsistency is enough to undermine positive enforcement efforts. Varying levels of enforcement reinforce the mentality that drivers can 'get away with it,'" the report states. "Every violation that goes unenforced is implicit encouragement for drivers to commit the violation again."
To smooth over these gaps, the report offers a few recommendations, including the creation of an executive officer for each borough command to oversee enforcement, educating officers on the importance of Vision Zero and placing additional emphasis on the most deadly violations.
Earlier this year, the NYPD's Transportation Chief Thomas Chan briefed council members on his plan for increased enforcement, which included targeting speeding and failure to yield at the precinct level, as well as conducting intensive investigations for all collisions resulting in critical injury.
Chan said additional officers were also slated to be trained to use speed guns, of which the NYPD was set to acquire an additional 200, as well as increase Highway Division patrols from 210 to 270.
Read the full report below:
Report-Card-Six Months of Vision Zero Traffic Enforcement
Tagged
dot
speeding
transportation alternatives
vision zero
Lauren Evans
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Parents grumble as NYC schools chancellor dodges calls for NYC schools integration plan
Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones said she felt disappointed by the lack of details.
By
Jessica Gould
Published Oct 20, 2026 at 10:01 p.m. ET
Driver found with apparent gunshot wound on George Washington Bridge, officials say
The westbound upper level was closed Tuesday night as Port Authority police investigated the incident.
By
Charles Lane
News
Driver found with apparent gunshot wound on George Washington Bridge, officials say
The westbound upper level was closed Tuesday night as Port Authority police investigated the incident.
By
Charles Lane
16 arrested in New York auto insurance fraud crackdown involving nearly $500K
By
Giulia Heyward
Coney Island's small, 1890s lighthouse may be landmarked by the city
By
Catalina Gonella
New renderings are out for Queens' Metropolitan Park casino
By
Willow Higgins
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 .