New York City has sent over 6000 cyclists to criminal court. Some say they are being treated unfairly.
New York City has sent over 6000 cyclists to criminal court. Some say they are being treated unfairly.
bronx.news12.com
Citywide crackdown on cyclists causes divide on accountability
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/33503408
I don't know anything about the difference between a traffic ticket and whatever type of "criminal summons" these 6,000 people are getting, so maybe that part isn't fair. If you're riding on the sidewalk, or cut in front of a pedestrian who's crossing in a crosswalk, you deserve a ticket of some sort.
Speaking as a layman, in a casual sense:
A criminal summons is basically the quick version of arresting someone & releasing them. You are formally charged with a crime, and have to appear in court to defend yourself. (https://www.jettonmeredithlaw.com/blog/2018/august/what-are-criminal-summons-and-private-warrants-/)
A ticket is a tort offense, in the context of a ticket, it is the government saying you have done something wrong (And they may punish you by fine, or some other civil sentence), but it doesn't rise of the level of a misdemeanor. (https://legaldictionary.net/tort-law/)
TL;DR: The government is saying that the cyclists are committing a much greater offense than car drivers.