Troopers let drivers with PBA cards go, report says
By: Amanda Wallace
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
..... An investigation conducted by the Office of the State comptroller found that New Jersey State Police troopers have routinely given "preferential treatment" to motorists who presented them with a courtesy care or shared their personal connection to law enforcement, even when a motorist was pulled over for suspected dangerous offenses such as drunken driving or speeding.
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A new report by the comptroller's office describes its Police Accountability Project, in which investigators reviewed the body camera footage of 501 state police stops in which troopers did not issue tickets or make arrests.
..... The review stops all took place over a 10-day period in December 2022, a year when the state saw 646 fatal collisions that resulted in 689 deaths, among the highest numbers of traffic-related deaths in New Jersey in the past 15 years, the comptroller's office said.
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In 139, or 27% of the reviewed stops, the motorists presented a courtesy card, commonly referred to as a PBA card. FOP card or gold card; claimed to have a connection to law enforcement through a friend or a relative, or presented a law enforcement badge and were subsequently let go.
..... The state police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
..... "courtesy cards are an op[en secret in New Jersey. Most people have heard about them, but what we didn't know and what this report shows, was how effective they are at avoiding consequences. They work even when honoring the courtesy card resulted in more dangerous roadways, and it's all because of who you know," acting State Comptroller Kevin D. Walsh, said during a press conference Wednesday [12/18/2024] afternoon. "It was stunning. the drivers were so brazen and obvious about what they were doing. In many instances, their words or conduct made it clear that they knew they would be let go without any consequences, even when they had just committed a really dangerous driving offense."
..... Along with the release of this report, the comptroller's office released the troopers' body camera footage form several of the reviewed traffic stops. In one such video, the motorist was pulled over after driving at around 90 mph. during the stop, the driver also admitted having been drinking. the driver was ultimately let go.
..... "I don't give a crap whose gold card this is, all right? If you didn't have this, we'd be going a whole different way. I would be hitting you for at least six," said the trooper. "And you're coming from somewhere. You think you should be driving like that? ... Get out of here. Don't let me catch you on my highway again."
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In another video, a driver, who was pulled over after driving over 100 mph, is let go after telling the trooper that her father is a lieutenant.
..... "Based on what we saw, I'm doubtful that the mere fact that they were stopped or scolded by the trooper was going to inspire there driving behavior to change going forward," Walsh said. "I watched a lot of these videos, and they left me with the sense that because of the two-tier system, there are lots of people who drive on New Jersey roads dangerously and with impunity because of who they know."
..... The investigation also found that white motorists are more likely to hold a courtesy card or have a relationship to law enforcement, as 69 of the 87 courtesy cards observed in the sample were held by white drivers. black, Hispanic, Asian and other drivers presented a combined 18 cards, the report said.
..... As a result of its findings, and to ensure that the state's roadways are safe and that motor vehicle laws are being "fairly and impartially enforced," the comptroller's office has made several recommendations, including that the New Jersey State Police should expand its quarterly reviews of motor vehicle stop data to include stops with no enforcement.
..... Among its 11 recommendations, the office is encouraging the attorney general to consider issuing a directive that would prohibit law enforcement officers from giving preferential treatment to drivers because of their connection with law enforcement or their possession of courtesy cards.
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Additionally, the comptroller's office is urging the attorney general to consider requiring law enforcement leadership around the state to monitor when preferential treatment is given to drivers for "improper reasons" and to evaluate any racial or ethnic disparities that come as a result.
..... "My hope would be that people who issue these, entities that issue courtesy cards, take into account that they are being used in ways that lead to roads being less safe. Take into account that they are leading to officers abusing their discretion in ways that I as a father, as a husband, am terrified at the notion of my kids going out onto roads where people drive dangerously with impunity," Walsh said. "The first step here is to appeal to people who have the power to stop this and to get them to stop issuing these cards."
..... He continued, "That probably won't get if of all of them, but it could put a big dent in making our roads safer. We also urge the Legislature ... and we urge others in government to do things that will hopefully start to prevent this from having such a bad impact and make it so that who you know and who you're related to doesn't play a role in motor vehicle stops."