A New York City police officer has settled a lawsuit for $175,000 after challenging a long-standing practice within the NYPD. Officer Mathew Bianchi took legal action after being demoted and reassigned for issuing tickets to drivers with “courtesy cards,” which are distributed by the Police Benevolent Association to officers’ friends and family.
Bianchi, who patrolled Staten Island, says the cards encouraged reckless driving by allowing those connected to police officers to avoid tickets for minor traffic violations. In response, he began issuing tickets to drivers despite the cards, prompting retaliation from within the department.
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In 2023, Bianchi filed a lawsuit against the city and a police captain, alleging the courtesy card system allowed drivers to break traffic laws without facing consequences. This week, the city agreed to settle the case for $175,000.
Bianchi remains employed by the NYPD but expressed concern that the practice will continue. The city’s legal department confirmed the settlement but declined to comment further.
Jack Aylmer
A NEW YORK CITY POLICE OFFICER HAS SETTLED A LAWSUIT FOR 175-THOUSAND DOLLARS AFTER HE SAYS HE WAS RETALIATED AGAINST FOR CHALLENGING THE NYPD’S SO-CALLED “GET OUT OF JAIL FREE” CARDS.
OFFICER MATHEW BIANCHI TOOK A STAND AGAINST ‘COURTESY CARDS’ FROM THE NEW YORK POLICE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION… WHICH ALLOW DRIVERS CONNECTED TO POLICE OFFICERS TO AVOID TICKETS FOR MINOR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.
BIANCHI SAYS THESE CARDS, HANDED OUT TO OFFICERS’ FRIENDS AND FAMILY… ENCOURAGE RECKLESS DRIVING. SO HE BEGAN ISSUING TICKETS TO DRIVERS, EVEN WHEN THEY PRESENTED THE CARDS. BIANCHI SAYS HE WAS DEMOTED AND REASSIGNED TO THE NIGHT SHIFT IN RETALIATION.
HE FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY AND A POLICE CAPTAIN IN 2023. THIS WEEK, THE CITY AGREED TO SETTLE THE LAWSUIT FOR 175-THOUSAND DOLLARS.
BIANCHI REMAINS WITH THE NYPD BUT SAYS HE’S CONCERNED THE COURTESY CARD SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW DRIVERS TO VIOLATE TRAFFIC LAWS WITHOUT FEAR OF PUNISHMENT.
THE CITY’S LEGAL DEPARTMENT CONFIRMED THE SETTLEMENT BUT DECLINED TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
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