Number Of Speeding Tickets Issued Increases Thousands Following Speed Limit Change
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – A change in the speed limit in New York City means an apparent ticket blitz by the NYPD.
The speed limit has decreased in NYC from 30 to 25, but the number of speeding tickets has increased thousands.
"I see people out flying, driving very fast," one taxi driver said.
As part of Vision Zero, the city's plan to end traffic deaths and injury on the streets, the speed limit on most city streets was lowered in November 2014, CBS2's Alice Gainer reported.
"We'll be doing a lot of public education over the coming months. We'll be doing a lot of warnings, obviously enforcement over time," Mayor Bill de Blasio said back then.
Instead of over time, the NYPD wasted no time in ticketing drivers, Gainer reported.
In November 2013, 6,600 speeding tickets were written. In November 2014, the same month as the speed change, 13,606 tickets were handed out.
In December 2013, 5,902 tickets were issued while in December 2014, 6,494 were written. January 2014 had 2,984 tickets issued, with 9,079 given out in January 2015.
But not everyone sees the blitz. CBS2 stopped by a local taxi stand and spoke with drivers.
One man Gainer spoke with said he hasn't noticed an increase in speeding tickets among drivers. In fact, many of the drivers said they actually applaud the effort.
"Less accidents," one driver said.
"I'm more careful," said another.
Some drivers CBS2 spoke with said whether the NYPD is giving one less speeding ticket or they're giving thousands of tickets, it doesn't matter-- if you're speeding, you're breaking the law.
A City Hall spokesman responded, saying in part, "…the NYPD has put new resources and tools into enforcing the speed limit to protect New Yorkers. Last year was the safest year on record for pedestrians."
So, until drivers slow down, the tickets won't either, Gainer reported.
