Over the past several weeks, as a result of the growing tension between the NYPD and NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, members of the NYPD have refused to enforce “quality-of-life” crimes, including loitering, public urination, solicitation, and subway-fare jumping. With the NYPD ignoring the Broken Windows campaign, the number of arrests has dropped dramatically, and with it, the amount of revenue that is usually generated by the imposition of fines and surcharges in the courts.
Although, perhaps the opposite should be true, if the police are not spending their time with the small quality-of-life offenses, then we may not need as many police officers or the ones we have don’t need overtime. As a system, the cost (in man-hours, legal services, and incarceration) of all of the quality-of-life offenses, which are more likely to be committed by individuals that are appointed an attorney, is probably higher than the income generated from the fines and surcharges imposed by the courts.
So ultimately, the City might save money by not arresting low-level offenders, if it reduces the amount of money necessary to pay to the services required when an individual is arrested.
The New York Zero Tolerance Law is a specific regulation aimed at reducing underage drinking and driving. Designed to keep roads safer, it imposes strict penalties on drivers under the age of 21 found with even minimal amounts of alcohol in their system. This law represents a no-nonsense approach to underage drinking and driving, hence the term "zero tolerance."
When it comes to homicide cases, the terms "murder" and "manslaughter" are often used interchangeably by those outside the legal profession. However, in New York law, these crimes are distinctly categorized with unique characteristics and consequences. Whether you’re a legal advice seeker or a New York resident, it's important to understand these differences.
