NYPD Priorities in Action: Keep Traffic Moving, Pedestrians Be Damned

Yesterday we saw what it looks like when police value pedestrian safety and enforce the integrity of the crosswalk. That’s how they roll in Sacramento. Here in New York, the NYPD’s priorities are a little different.

Clarence Eckerson recently shot this clip at the intersection of Canal and Lafayette. As you can see, an officer crossing the street with other pedestrians noticed a vehicle blocking the box (and a bike lane). Instead of giving the driver a summons, he proceeded to hold up everyone who had the right of way and wave the car through the crosswalk, directly into the path of at least one person on foot. All in a day’s work for New York’s finest.