Booze tickets surge under Adams to 10,000 in the past year with NYPD’s return to ‘broken windows’ policing
New York’s Finest has issued nearly 10,000 tickets over the past year to street drinkers who violate open-container policies, imposing fines of $25 per infraction. This total is higher than the number of tickets issued in the preceding four years combined, according to police data reviewed by The Post. The New York Police Department’s crackdown on outdoor drinking appears to be part of its renewed promise to tackle quality-of-life complaints, a return to the “broken windows policing” strategy credited with reducing crime in the 1990s. However, not everyone is in favour of the police’s initiative; some believe the least they can ask for is to drink in the park without being disturbed. From January to March 2023, officers handed out 2,524 criminal tickets for enjoying a drink in public, increasing six-fold over the same period last year, accounting for nearly 12% of the 21,000 total criminal summonses issued during that time.
FAQs
What is the “broken windows” policing strategy?
Broken windows policing is a theory introduced by social scientists George L. Kelling and James Q. Wilson in a 1982 article. The controversial theory claims that cracking down on smaller crimes like public drinking, loitering or vandalism helps halt big, violent crimes by building an aura of order and safety.
What is the fine for drinking in public?
The NYPD imposes a $25 fine for drinking in public.
Why has the NYPD intensified its crackdown on outdoor drinking?
The NYPD’s recent campaign against outdoor drinking is part of its renewed promise to tackle quality-of-life complaints, a return to the “broken windows policing” strategy credited with reducing crime in the 1990s.
Does everyone support the NYPD’s crackdown on outdoor drinking?
The police’s renewed initiative to tackle open-container policy will not appeal to everyone, as some New Yorkers have expressed concern. Some believe that the least they can ask for is to drink in the park without being disturbed.
How do police officers meet quota in short-staffed departments?
According to police sources, as police officers are forced to work overtime, the NYPD has replaced weed citations with drink tickets, which are the new way of meeting quotas in short-staffed departments.
What is the difference between criminal open container summonses versus civil court summonses?
Criminal open container summonses can lead to jail time, while civil court summonses rely on fines instead of warrants to ensure compliance; summons can’t lead to jail time.
What do advocates of “broken windows” policing say about the strategy?
Advocates of “broken windows” policing believe that the theory helps to lower the rate of violent crime by curbing smaller offences. They believe that cracking down on quality-of-life issues creates an aura of order and safety and that public drinking, loitering, or vandalism are gateways to criminal activities.
What is the repercussion for drinking in public?
Drinking in public is a violation of open-container policy and carries a punishment of $25 per infraction.
‘Broken windows’ policing leads to surge in Booze tickets to 10,000 under Adams’ leadership in the past year with the NYPD’s return.
New Yorkers who enjoy a drink in public are being warned by the NYPD to hide their beers, or face a $25 fine. Officers have issued nearly 10,000 tickets to street drinkers in the past year, more than in the four previous years combined, according to police data. During the first three months of 2023 alone, the police wrote 2,524 criminal tickets for public drinking, six times more than last year. The drink tickets accounted for nearly 12% of the 21,000 total criminal summonses issued during that period. The increase in tickets is part of a renewed effort to tackle quality-of-life complaints, and a return to the “broken windows” policing strategy of the 1990s.