Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Charles Komanoff

When Traffic Enforcement Doesn’t Include Moving Violations

trucks_in_soho.jpg
The streets of Soho, where trucks roam free

If you have an eye for New York City traffic mayhem, then you know those "Where's a cop when I need one" moments. This is about a mayhem moment when a cop was right there -- and did nothing. It took place last November, a little before 6:00 pm on a weekday. A big truck fleeing a traffic jam had just barreled down my residential street, going the wrong way. Among the pedestrians in its path were two traffic enforcement agents. Great, I figured, I'll actually see a driver get a ticket.

It didn't happen. The traffic agents did nothing, even after I approached them and suggested that they, at least, talk to the driver.

So, on Nov. 13, I sent a letter to Police Commissioner Ray Kelly to inform him of the incident. What follows is the text of my letter to Kelly, followed by the NYPD's response, which arrived four months later. (Note that although the NYPD letter was dated Dec. 2006, the  police didn't get around to mailing it until March 2007.)

November 13, 2006

Mr. Ray Kelly
Commissioner
NYC Police Department
1 Police Plaza
New York, NY 10038

Dear Commissioner Kelly:

I witnessed a frightening incident last Thursday evening (Nov. 9) that I believe warrants action by the NYPD.

At 5:52 pm, a heavy-duty truck, probably in the 20,000-lb class, made an illegal left turn from Hudson Street onto Duane Street in lower Manhattan and drove west, the wrong way, on east-bound Duane Street to Greenwich Street. I estimate its speed to have been 20-22 mph. At the T-intersection of Duane with Greenwich, the truck slowed only enough to negotiate a left turn. This block of Duane Street, where I live, is heavily pedestrianized, and in fact pedestrians had to scatter to avoid being struck in the striped crosswalk running from the southeast corner of the T-intersection to the northeast corner.

What was equally frightening, and even more upsetting, is that two uniformed NYPD traffic enforcement agents who were in the Duane Street crosswalk at that time did nothing to intervene.

The two officers had just begun crossing from the southeast to the northeast corner when the truck barreled through. I was a dozen feet away and ran over to the officers to ask them to summons the driver (at that moment the truck was standing in the traffic queue on Greenwich Street north of Reade Street, no more than 150 feet away). Both officers refused my entreaties to pull over the truck, even though one, Officer Rignola, admitted having seen it drive the wrong way on Duane Street and aggressively turn in front of him.

I understand that TEAs are limited in the violations they can issue. But I cannot believe that their duties require them to ignore both a violation of this gravity and a request for help from a citizen.

I would like to hear from the department what the two officers should have done. Please also let me know what steps will be taken to ensure that they, as well as other officers attached to the 1st Precinct, intervene to protect the public from similarly marauding vehicles in the future.

Sincerely,

Charles Komanoff

PS: I wish to commend Officer Rignola for giving me his name. I know it's required by regulations but I still appreciate his courtesy.

Photo: Jeevs via Flickr

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Hit-and-Run Driver Kills Pedestrian on Bedford Av. Hours Before Long-Stalled Safety Redesign Begins

The driver was traveling so quickly that the victim was tossed high in the air before landing back on the car hood and being tossed to the side of the road as the killer drove off.

October 11, 2024

Manhattanites To DOT: Open Queensboro Bridge Pedestrian Path ‘Without Delay’

"It’s really inappropriate for the DOT to delay," said one member of Manhattan Community Board 6.

October 11, 2024

Council Seeks to Force DOT to Build 175 E-Bike Charging Hubs 

A new bill would force the DOT to build over 100 charging hubs, but will it be enough to keep up with demand?

October 11, 2024

Friday Video: A Vision for West 72nd Street

Maybe someday, a roadway that devotes 88 percent of its space to a tiny minority of users (drivers) could finally work for everyone. We can dream, can't we?

October 11, 2024

Friday’s Headlines: Yes, We Will Mention the Yankees Edition

We are praying for the first Subway Series since 2000. Plus other news.

October 11, 2024
See all posts