A current social media submit from e-bike homeowners in New York City exhibits us that typically police priorities are fairly far out of whack. During a time when many Americans are involved that the police may not be there once they’re wanted essentially the most, we’re seeing cops losing time on one thing utterly ineffective: E-bike “checkpoints.”
Nypd has an ebike test level at prospect park this afternoon, apparently. stopped my husband on his pedal help ebike from bringing our daughter into the park. Threatened him with a $150 high quality and destroying his bike. #bikenyc pic.twitter.com/6ZgKqGSjLX
— Shay O’Reilly (@shaygabriel) May 29, 2022
A person was out using an e-bike together with his daughter, having fun with what seems to be nice climate on Memorial Day Weekend. But the little child’s enjoyable time with dad was immediately utterly ruined once they bumped into New York’s…most interesting? Instead of with the ability to take a leisurely experience round Prospect Park, the pair of “criminals” discovered themselves being detained. Why? Because the man dared to go down the incorrect avenue on an e-bike and bumped into some type of checkpoint.
An NYPD officer and a Park Ranger stopped them and informed them that they have been violating the legislation. But, as a substitute of offering steering to right an trustworthy mistake, they have been threatened with a $150 high quality and destruction of the bike (which might be much more pricey than $150).
In a video, you may see that the person’s daughter was visibly upset by this pointless and harsh police interplay:
How does this make sense? @RitaJosephNYC @ShahanaFromBK @CMShahanaHanif are you able to guys assist right here? @FlatbushSts4Ppl @BrooklynSpoke pic.twitter.com/DKbBuFvO0W
— Shay O’Reilly (@shaygabriel) May 29, 2022
Instead of with the ability to proceed on to the park, she needed to watch her father get lectured by police, and realized that cops aren’t at all times our pals. Worse, she in all probability overheard them threaten to destroy the bike she was using on, which leaves plenty of room for misinterpretation and concern in a younger thoughts.
What’s even worse is that what these officers are doing may not even be authorized. According to a submit on StreetsBlog NYC, the anti-e-bike coverage these cops are imposing isn’t in step with New York state legislation.
“The conflict, of course, is that state law that legalized e-bikes in 2020 does not consider pedal-assist electric bikes to be motor vehicles. It’s right there in section 125 of the vehicle and traffic law; the definition of a motor vehicle in New York State is a “vehicle operated or driven upon a public highway which is propelled by any power other than muscular power, except … bicycles with electric assist as defined in section 102-c of this article.”
An Unwise Use Of Police Resources
As a mum or dad, it’s extraordinarily tough to see police losing time making a child cry over one thing as trivial as an e-bike, particularly when the legislation appears to be fairly clear that the park’s prohibition on e-bikes isn’t authorized. Even worse, we’re seeing this after police in Uvalde, Texas sat round and did nothing for over an hour whereas youngsters died.
We’re already questioning what the purpose of police even is after we see such dereliction of responsibility, however we shortly discover out that police haven’t any qualms about doing issues like imposing unlawful insurance policies and going so far as to threaten a person and his youngster whereas doing so. I’m virtually embarrassed to say that I was in legislation enforcement after I see issues like this.
When we actually, actually need the police, they’re not there for us. But when no one needs them, they’re able to spring into motion to do silly and mildly evil issues like this. Shame on NYPD.
Featured picture: A screenshot from the Twitter submit embedded above.
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