Mayor Flouts Traffic Laws He Pledged to Enforce
Just days after Mayor Bill de Blasio announced an aggressive plan to prevent traffic deaths, CBS 2 cameras caught the driver of a car carrying the mayor violating a number of traffic laws.
But the NYPD responded Thursday evening that the mayor’s caravan, which is operated by police, sometimes has to use special driving techniques for protective reasons.
As CBS 2′s Marcia Kramer reported Thursday, the mayor’s two-car caravan was seen speeding, blowing through stop signs, and violating other traffic laws. Kramer reported that if the driver of the lead car, which carried the mayor in its passenger seat, had been cited, he would have racked up enough points to get his license suspended.
When the mayor announced his 62-point safe streets initiative, which includes lowering the speed limit to 25 mph, he said, “We want the public to know that we are holding ourselves to this standard.”
But Kramer reported the mayor failed to practice what he preached Thursday.
CBS 2 crews found Mayor de Blasio’s cars going through a stop sign at a Queens intersection, and that wasn’t the only traffic violation caught on tape.
The safety violations came just two days after the mayor unveiled his traffic safety plan.
“We’ve put a very bold plan before you, and we want the public to know we’re are holding ourselves to this standard,” de Blasio said Tuesday.
The mayor’s two-car caravan violated speed laws and racked up other motor vehicle violations after he held a news conference in Maspeth, Queens on pothole repairs.
The mayor was in the front passenger seat of the lead car, driven by a member of his security detail. But being in the front, the stop sign violations were clearly seen.
Kramer said as she followed de Blasio’s caravan, his words at the road safety press conference rang her ears.
“We hope that every time someone reads one of your stories, they’re also asking themselves the question — are they handling their vehicle as responsibly as they could?” the mayor said.
But as Kramer followed de Blasio, she saw his cars go 40 to 45 mph in a 30 mph zone, and as they passed a 45 mph sign, Kramer clocked the caravan going much faster – up to 60 mph.
Under his new plan, the mayor’s goal is to reduce traffic speeds from 30 to 25 in the city and stop cabbies from speeding, too.
“The likelihood of a fatal crash and this statistic is very powerful. The likelihood of a fatal crash drops significantly for speeds below 30 mph. If we get those speeds down, it will be the difference between losing a life and saving a life,” he said.
Kramer reported if a police officer had been following the cars, and had pulled the mayor’s caravan over for his violations and issued tickets, the lead driver would have had his license suspended:
• Driving or rolling through a stop sign: 3 points;
• Driving or rolling through a stop sign a second time: 3 points;
• Going 10 mph over the 30 mph speed limit: 3 points;
• Going 15 mph over the 45 mph speed limit: 4 points.
The grand total for all four violations, had they been handed out, is 13. Your license can be suspended if you rack up just 11 points.
And that was not all Kramer found. Cars were seen changing lanes without signaling, and when the mayor got back to City Hall, he stayed in his car in the parking lot. The chase car was unable to enter the City Hall Plaza, and ended up blocking the intersection and the crosswalk – forcing pedestrians to walk around it.
The NYPD released a statement suggesting that the traffic procedures by the mayor’s security detail may have been necessary:
“The security and transportation for the Mayor are provided by the New York City Police Department. Police Department personnel assigned to the Mayor’s Security Detail receive specialized training in driving based on maintaining security as well as safety. At certain times, under certain conditions, this training may include the use of techniques such as maintaining speed with the general flow of traffic, and may sometimes include tactics to safely keep two or more police vehicles together in formation when crossing intersections,” the NYPD said in the statement. “The handling of police vehicles transporting any protectee is determined solely by police personnel based on their specialized training in executive protection and professional judgment.”
The Mayor’s office also released a statement on the caravan’s traffic violations, referring questions to the NYPD.
“We believe public safety is everyone’s responsibility. We also recognize NYPD’s training and protocols, and refer questions related to security and transportation to them. With that in mind, Mayor de Blasio is firmly committed to the traffic safety policies outlined this week,” de Blasio Press Secretary Phil Walzak said in the statement.
In other news, De Blasio was caught on video jaywalking, despite a recent crackdown by the NYPD
From the NY Post:
Mayor de Blasio and his security detail crossed a Brooklyn street against the light Friday on his way to his morning workout – just a day after his SUV blew through two stop signs and was speeding in Queens.
Exclusive video taken by The Post caught the mayor — dressed in a “Brooklyn” sweatshirt, slacks and sneakers — chatting on his cellphone as he sauntered across 11th Street on 6th Avenue in Park Slope, ignoring the orange hand on the traffic signal that clearly warns pedestrians not to cross.
Hizzoner’s NYPD handlers faithfully crossed with him. They were in the crosswalk but were jaywalking because they did not have the light.
In January, NYPD precincts launched an aggressive jaywalking ticket blitz that had de Blasio’s support.
His Friday morning flouting of traffic safety rules came a day after deBlasio was caught on camera riding shotgun in a speeding SUV.
His mayoral black two-unit convoy was videotaped by a CBS 2 News crew as it blew through two stop signs in Queens and clocked at nearly 60 miles an hour in a 45 mile per hour zone, and 40 -45 mph in a 30 mph zone. They were not using lights or sirens.
The increasingly prickly de Blasio punted questions Friday about his lead-footed drivers to the NYPD, saying the maneuvers are a matter of police “security protocols.”
“Guys, listen, you need to talk to the NYPD, they can tell you about the security protocols that the drivers observe,” he told reporters just before setting out from his Brooklyn home on his morning jaywalk.
“We take very seriously the NYPD protocols, the NYPD training, so please talk to them,” he said. “I’ve got to go to the gym.”
The NYPD declined to comment or provide details of those protocols, even though the mayor directed questions be referred to the department.
Minutes after talking to the press, De Blasio and his police security posse set off down 11th Street, toward 6th Ave, ignoring the pedestrian “don’t walk” warning as they crossed to 10th Street around 7:25 am.
The mayor then made his way to Colson Patisserie, where he had an oatmeal, water and small espresso before continuing the Prospect Park YMCa gym around 7:40.
His SUV security detail then waited outside to give de Blasio a lift home when he finished his workout shortly after 9 am.
A short time later, the mayor declined to answer questions, quipping “have a nice day!” as he ducked into his SUV for the drive to City Hall.
Appearances to the contrary, the mayor said Friday he is “very serious” about his sweeping Vision Zero traffic safety initiative – announced Wednesday — which includes lowering the city speed limit to 25 to end traffic deaths.
Among those written up in the January ticket writing sting was 84-year-old Kang Wang, a Chinese immigrant who could not understand the cops and was left bloodied when he resisted. De Blasio and NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton have said the ticket blitz was not part of a citywide effort.
Like the Sandinistas he supports
He’s no different then the communist Sandinista government he supported in Nicaragua (Google “De Blasio Sandinista” if you’re unaware). Terrorize the masses and force them into what you want them to be and how you want them to behave, but the ruler is above the law, and proud of it too. That’s “Progressive” in a nutshell.
Communist hypocrite
De Blasio is a communist hypocrite. Anyone surprised? I hope not. Everyone should know by now how the dear leader and his army (NYPD) aren’t subject to the law.
Stupid news report
It’s basic security protocol to keep moving……..you stop you are more prone to attacks. This is nonsensical.
Milhouse
How does that change anything? His “security protocol” does not entitle him to break the law! Are you suggesting that you or I could do the same thing, and break any traffic laws I like if our “security protocol” says to? Or are you suggesting that de Blasio’s security is more important than mine or yours?
not so
And jay walking is also safety protocol?
To "Stupid news report" - it's not stupid
Did you see that De Blasio jaywalked? Next time you get a ticket for jaywalking (or get arrested if you have no ID) tell us if it’s a stupid news report that De Blasio jaywalked proudly for the camera after saying he’ll crack down on jaywalking.
Can't stand him as mayor
But really so he took a stop sign he the mayor big deal
Milhouse
What, laws are for the little people?! A mayor’s first duty is to obey the law. If the police, who answer to him, won’t give him a ticket, then what right do they have to give one to anyone for the same offense?
To "Can't stand"
I’m sure he also says “I’m the mayor big deal, I could do what I want”. In fact, all communists say that, so join the club.
To "Can't stand him as mayor"
“So I jaywalked big deal” – Try telling that to a cop next time you get a ticket or arrested for jaywalking and see how far it takes you. Maybe then you’ll change your mind on what’s a big deal for the Mayor to do.
Stupid news report
#4…you obviously know little about security protocols. A back up vehicle has to be positioned to look ahead of the lead vehicle and in close urban areas, you cannot allow another vehicle to separate you from the lead vehicle.
He is the Mayor of New York and a legitimate terror and criminal target.
I doubt you have the same threats or risks. Of course, they have to observe traffic laws and lights/sirens or a motorcycle escort would help alleviate any safety concerns.
Milhouse
I don’t care what his security protocol requires. His security protocol is not a law. The traffic code is. How does his being mayor of New York change anything? Does that make him more important than you or me?! Suppose I feel I’m a target for criminals, perhaps because I owe the wrong people money; are you seriously suggesting that that entitles me to draw up a “security protocol”, and then break whatever traffic laws it calls for breaking?!
once a joke
twice a dope
3rd time he’s a cantaloupe.
DON’T VOTE FOR HIM next election. UNless you want a fruitcake leading the city. He is Bloomberg incarnate – only worse.
your neighbor
Looks as if you have tardily and cravenly joined the bandwagon to no where. Why would you decide to hop aboard when it is already crowded with petty back-biting, heel snipping morons. After he stands unabashedly in defense of the Jewish Homeland how can you adopt the stance of a crass ingrate?
Ezra
“Your neighbor”: So, if someone defends our rights to Eretz Yisrael, then that insulates him or her from criticism for anything else? In that case I await your spirited defense of Stalin ימ”ש, who had his representative at the UN (and those of the countries under his thumb) vote in favor of the establishment of Israel.
Milhouse
He’s a communist. Therefore by definition he is evil, and must be opposed. How does his speaking for Israel change that? Who asked him to? Since when is it a mayor’s job to say anything about Israel in the first place?
Stupid News Report - It really is
#6. I refer to the news article about motorcade protocols versus traffic law. I didn’t say anything about jaywalking, you did. Jaywalking is wrong and illegal. Motorcade protocols are not illegal and the Mayor did not carry out those protocols, NYPD did.
Milhouse
Really? They’re not illegal? Then why can’t you and I follow them too?
And is NYPD above the law? They were acting as his agents, so he’s responsible.
Stupid news report-It really is.
#18 – we are not protected by the NYPD as high risk VIP’s. There are legitimate security and safety concerns for the Mayor of NY city. Motorcade protocols like this are followed in major cities throughout the USA. If you stop at a light, there is an increased risk of an attack. Again, it’s a motorcade protocol. NYPD are not above the law. Marked vehicles or motorcycles should have been used in addition and that would have been more appropriate.
Milhouse
Donald Trump is at least as likely as de Blasio to be a target for somebody. I’m sure he travels with bodyguards. Are you claiming that his drivers and bodyguards are entitled to flout the traffic laws whenever their “protocols” call for it?! If not, then what right do de Blasio’s people have to a special exemption from the laws? His safety is not more important than anyone else’s. It is fundamentally un-American to claim that it is.
And the same considerations apply not just to Trump but to any Joe Blow who has enemies. Menachem Stark, for instance. Was he entitled to openly flout traffic laws, if he felt that they exposed him to danger?
Stupid news report-It really is.
#20 you are going around in circles. Donald Trump is not the Mayor of New York. He does not have NYPD protection. His drivers cannot use lights or sirens legally. 2 different people. And Menachem Stark a’h??? Go back to hating the mayor as this conversation is not about security protocol, but about De Blasio……