Every year, NYPD officers, active and retired, cards known as “get out of jail free cards.” OK, they’re not really “get out of jail free” cards. These courtesy cards issued by the The New York Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association (PBA) allow their family members and friends to evade minor traffic violations. Those who possess them can get out of parking tickets, traffic violations and other minor incidents. If the violation is serious enough, a summons will still be given. The card merely means that an officer vouches for the person. However, many on the force are pissed off after the PBA has announced that it will be limiting the number of cards they will be dispensing to officers and retirees. The number of cards issued to current officers will be reduced from 30 to 20. The number issued to retirees will go from 20 to 10.Before, the PBA was giving out at least 720,000 cards every year to its 24,000 active cops annually, but now, there will be 480,000 given.
This move was made by PBA boss Pat Lynch, because he feels that too many officers are selling their cards online. According to RT:
A quick search on eBay reveals several of the passes from different unions and agencies are being sold anywhere from $30 to $200. Most of the listings state that the cards are “novelty items” only meant for “collectors.” Many of the seller’s accounts showed they have sold multiple cards that were issued this year.
One seller listed a 2018 Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA) PBA card for “for collectible purposes only!!!” The seller’s account showed they had previously sold at least five and still had three available.
Another seller listed a “brand new” signed 2018 SBA PBA card for $119, with a description that warned buyers that it was being sold as “a collectible, and possession implies no membership, association, or affiliation with the SBA, or the NYPD PBA.”
“It is sold strictly as a collectible and conveys no special privileges,” the seller added.
As stated earlier, the cops aren’t taking kindly to the reduction in cards. “They are treating active members like shit, and retired members even worse than shit,” said a retired officer. “All the cops I spoke to were very disappointed they couldn’t hand them out as Christmas gifts.”
Did you know police officers were offered this privilege? How do you feel about it? Comment below.