New York, NY - CCRB Wants Police-Card Rules

New York, NY - A watchdog groups want the NYPD to lay down some rules about the police union courtesy cards that many motorists display in hopes of beating traffic tickets.

The Civilian Complaint Review Board says it has heard 11 cases in which it says cops improperly took the cards away from drivers.
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly is looking into whether the cops should be allowed to revoke the cards, which are seen as a way to gain favor with the Finest. "It's understandable that police officers confiscated them from individuals who used the cards to try to unduly influence them," Kelly said.

In nearly a dozen cases, motorists say they flashed the cards after being stopped by cops - in hopes of catching a break. Instead, cops snatched the cards.
Even though the CCRB is investigating the cases, plenty of cops don't think the officers did anything wrong. "A card is not a get-out-of-jail-free card," said a highway patrol officer who didn't want his name used. "The cops feel they should not be in possession of them, so they take them."