Inside the NYPD crackdown on subway fare evaders

FOX 5 New York
8 Mar 202404:24

Summary

TLDRThe NYPD is implementing a strategy to combat violent crimes in the subway system by targeting fare evaders. The department believes that many criminals use the subway system to commit felonies, often starting with not paying their fare. By focusing on fare evasion, the police aim to identify and apprehend those with criminal histories or active warrants before they can escalate to more serious offenses. This approach has already led to the recovery of multiple firearms and the arrest of individuals with violent tendencies. The operation is part of a broader effort to enhance security and improve the quality of life for commuters.

Takeaways

  • ๐Ÿš‚ The NYPD is increasing police presence in subways to prevent violent crimes.
  • ๐Ÿ” Fare evasion is not the primary target; the focus is on criminals who commit violent offenses.
  • ๐Ÿ”’ Many crimes in the subway are committed by individuals who do not pay their fares.
  • ๐Ÿ”Ž NYPD officers are looking for transit recidivists and those with active warrants.
  • ๐Ÿ”ซ Recovering firearms and identifying criminals is part of the strategy to reduce felony crimes.
  • ๐Ÿ‘ฎโ€โ™‚๏ธ Plainclothes officers are arresting fare evaders who may have warrants or be in possession of weapons.
  • ๐Ÿ’ฐ The operation targets individuals who can afford designer clothing but choose not to pay the fare.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Officers use smartphones to check for criminal histories during encounters.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Not all stopped individuals are arrested; some may receive civil summonses.
  • ๐Ÿ‘จโ€โœˆ๏ธ The Transit Response Team engages with customers to provide a sense of security.
  • ๐Ÿ“‰ Subway crime rates are down, but the NYPD aims to improve the quality of life for riders.

Q & A

  • What is the main focus of the NYPD's new tactic in the subways?

    -The NYPD is focusing on fare beaters as part of an attempt to prevent violent crimes.

  • How does the NYPD relate fare evasion to violent crimes?

    -The NYPD believes that many of the crimes in the subway system are committed by individuals who evade fares, and these individuals often go on to commit more serious violent offenses.

  • What is the NYPD's approach to fare evaders?

    -The NYPD is not targeting fare evasion as a standalone issue but rather using it as a way to identify and prevent potential violent criminals and transit recidivists.

  • What happens when someone is caught evading fares?

    -If the person has a criminal history or active warrants, they can be arrested. If not, they may receive a civil summons.

  • What is the role of the Transit Response Team in this operation?

    -The Transit Response Team engages with customers, provides a sense of security, and is not fixed to a specific post or answering 911 jobs all day.

  • How does the NYPD identify potential criminals among fare evaders?

    -Officers use their phones to run the person's name through the system to check for criminal history or active warrants.

  • What was the outcome of the NYPD's operation on the night mentioned in the script?

    -Three people were arrested, all of whom had warrants.

  • How does the NYPD ensure they are not unfairly targeting riders who cannot afford the fare?

    -The NYPD is not looking to single out riders who can't afford the fare. They focus on individuals with a history of crime or active warrants.

  • What was the number of MTA employees assaulted last year according to the NYPD?

    -The NYPD reported 38 employees assaulted.

  • What is the significance of the number 1126 mentioned in the script?

    -1126 represents the total number of career arrests resulting from the combined arrests of all 38 MTA employees who were assaulted.

  • How many people were observed not paying their subway fare during the three minutes the story aired?

    -14 people were observed not paying their subway fare.

Outlines

00:00

๐Ÿš‚ NYPD's Focus on Subway Fare Beaters

The NYPD is targeting subway fare beaters as part of a strategy to prevent violent crimes. The focus is not solely on fare evasion but on the fact that many criminals use the subway system to commit offenses. The police are looking for recidivists and individuals with active warrants, as well as those carrying weapons. The operation involves the Transit Response Team and Community Response Team, aiming to provide a sense of security and improve the quality of life for commuters. The NYPD is also recovering firearms and arresting individuals with criminal histories, emphasizing that fare evasion is often a precursor to more serious crimes.

Mindmap

Keywords

๐Ÿ’กFare Beaters

Fare beaters refer to individuals who evade paying the required fare for public transportation, such as subways. In the context of the video, this behavior is not only a violation of the transit rules but is also linked to a higher likelihood of committing more serious crimes, as the NYPD targets these individuals to prevent violent offenses.

๐Ÿ’กViolent Crimes

Violent crimes are criminal acts that involve physical harm or threat of harm to another person. The video emphasizes that fare beaters are often associated with a propensity for committing such crimes, which is why the NYPD is implementing tactics to address fare evasion as a preventive measure.

๐Ÿ’กNYPD

The New York Police Department (NYPD) is the primary law enforcement agency responsible for the city of New York. In the video, the NYPD is portrayed as proactive in addressing subway crime by focusing on fare evasion as a gateway to more serious criminal activities.

๐Ÿ’กTransit System

The transit system refers to the network of vehicles, infrastructure, and operations that facilitate public transportation. In the video, the subway is a key component of the transit system, and the NYPD's efforts are aimed at improving safety and security within this network.

๐Ÿ’กRecidivists

Recidivists are individuals who repeatedly commit crimes, often returning to a life of criminal activity after being released from incarceration. The video highlights the NYPD's focus on identifying and apprehending these individuals within the transit system.

๐Ÿ’กCommunity Response Team

The Community Response Team is a specialized unit within the NYPD that engages with the public to build trust and address community concerns. In the video, this team is part of the operation to improve the quality of life for subway riders by providing a sense of security.

๐Ÿ’กCivil Summons

A civil summons is a legal document that requires an individual to appear in court for a non-criminal matter. In the context of the video, a civil summons is issued to individuals who do not have a violent history or are not recidivists, as a less severe consequence for fare evasion.

๐Ÿ’กTransit Response Team

The Transit Response Team is a unit within the NYPD dedicated to addressing issues within the transit system. Their role is to engage with customers, respond to incidents, and provide a sense of security for subway riders.

๐Ÿ’กQuality of Life

Quality of life refers to the general well-being and satisfaction of individuals in their daily lives. In the video, the NYPD's efforts to reduce fare evasion and violent crimes are aimed at improving the quality of life for subway riders by ensuring a safe and secure commuting environment.

๐Ÿ’กCareer Arrests

Career arrests refer to the cumulative number of arrests made against an individual over time, indicating a pattern of criminal behavior. The video uses this term to highlight the severity of the issue and the NYPD's efforts to address chronic offenders.

Highlights

Police officers, state troopers, and National Guardsmen are becoming more visible in the subways.

A specific group of officers is focusing on fare beaters to prevent violent crimes.

The NYPD is targeting people committing crimes in the subway, many of whom are fare evaders.

The NYPD believes that reducing fare evasion can ultimately reduce felony crime.

The NYPD is looking for transit recidivists, those who repeatedly commit crimes in the transit system.

The NYPD has recovered multiple firearms from individuals they encounter.

All three people arrested on a particular night had warrants.

The NYPD is not targeting riders who can't afford to pay; they are looking for those with a criminal history.

The NYPD issues civil summonses for those without a violent history or in need of services.

The operation is made up of the Transit Response Team and Community Response Team members.

The teams are not fixed to a post but engage with customers to provide a sense of security.

Subway crime is down, but the NYPD is working to improve the quality of life for riders.

In the three minutes of the story, 14 people were counted not paying their subway fare.

Last year, the NYPD arrested 38 employees for assaulting MTA employees, leading to 1126 career arrests.

The NYPD's approach is to use low-level offenses to get violent individuals out of the subway system.

The NYPD is using this tactic to ensure home safety and a better quality of life for riders.

The NYPD's presence in the subways is aimed at creating a deterrent effect on potential criminals.

The NYPD's strategy includes checking individuals for active warrants and criminal history on the spot.

The NYPD's approach is not to single out riders but to focus on those who pose a threat to public safety.

Transcripts

00:00

.

00:03

YOU'RE WATCHING THE 5:00

00:06

NEWS.

00:07

AS MORE POLICE OFFICERS,

00:08

STATE TROOPERS, AND EVEN

00:09

NATIONAL GUARDSMEN HAVE BECOME

00:10

VISIBLE IN THE SUBWAYS, ONE

00:13

SPECIFIC GROUP OF OFFICERS IS

00:14

FOCUSING ON FARE BEATERS IN AN

00:14

ATTEMPT TO PREVENT VIOLENT

00:15

CRIMES.

00:17

FOX FIVE'S MICHELLE ROSS IS

00:18

LIVE IN DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN. AND,

00:20

MICHELLE, YOU ACTUALLY RODE THE

00:21

SUBWAY WITH THE NYPD. WHAT ARE

00:23

THEY SAYING ABOUT THIS TACTIC?

00:24

AND IF IT'S WORKING OR NOT?

00:26

NATASHA, IT IS WORKING. LAST

00:29

ARRESTS, AND THEY'RE WAITING TO

00:30

SEE WHAT THE LARGER IMPACT IS.

00:33

BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY FARE

00:34

EVASION THAT THE NYPD IS

00:35

TARGETING. THEY SAY THE PEOPLE

00:37

THAT ARE COMMITTING THE CRIMES

00:38

DOWN HERE, MOST OF THE CRIMES

00:39

DOWN HERE AREN'T PAYING THEIR

00:43

FARES. THEY'RE THEN GOING ON TO

00:44

BURDEN THE COMMUTERS PREY ON THE

00:46

COMMUTERS, COMMIT VIOLENT

00:47

OFFENSES, AND THEN GO ON TO

00:51

CREATE LAWLESSNESS THROUGHOUT

00:55

THE TRANSIT SYSTEM. ONE AFTER

00:56

ANOTHER AFTER ANOTHER, WITH THE

00:59

DOZENS OF FARE BEATERS OUR

01:00

CAMERAS CAUGHT JUMPING THE

01:02

TURNSTILE OR WALKING THROUGH THE

01:03

EMERGENCY EXIT TO AVOID PAYING,

01:06

YOU'D ALMOST THINK THE SUBWAY IS

01:08

AT A COST, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS

01:11

MAN.

01:14

WHAT? DON'T YOU SERIOUS?

01:16

PLAINCLOTHES OFFICERS ARREST

01:18

HIM AT THE UTICA AVENUE STATION

01:19

AFTER SAYING HE HAD A BENCH

01:21

WARRANT FOR A ROBBERY IN QUEENS

01:23

IN NOVEMBER, THE NYPD IS ON THE

01:25

LOOKOUT FOR FARE EVADERS BECAUSE

01:26

THEY SAY IT PREVENTS VIOLENT

01:27

CRIMES FROM HAPPENING. THE CITY

01:29

HAS BIGGER FISH TO FRY WHEN IT

01:30

COMES TO, YOU KNOW, FARE EVASION

01:32

AND FARE BEATERS. BUT THIS

01:33

PARTICULARLY GOES BEYOND THAT,

01:34

RIGHT?

01:36

AS I JUST TOLD THE TEAM

01:37

THAT'S GOING OUT THERE TODAY, IT

01:39

MAY LOOK LIKE A LOW LEVEL CRIME

01:40

AND IT MAY START OUT THAT WAY,

01:42

BUT REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF

01:43

PEOPLE WHO COME INTO THE SYSTEM

01:46

WITHOUT PAYING IS ULTIMATELY

01:47

REDUCING FELONY CRIME, BECAUSE

01:48

THESE ARE GOING TO BE THE PEOPLE

01:49

WHO ARE GOING TO HAVE GUNS.

01:51

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE KNIVES,

01:53

THEY'RE GOING TO PUSH PEOPLE ON

01:54

THE TRACKS.

01:55

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR TRANSIT

01:56

RECIDIVISTS THOSE WHO REPEATEDLY

01:59

COMMIT CRIMES IN THE TRANSIT

02:00

SYSTEM. AND CHANCES ARE THE NYPD

02:02

SAYS THEY'RE NOT PAYING THEIR

02:02

FAIR BEFORE COMMITTING THE CRIME

02:03

.

02:04

WE RECOVER MULTIPLE FIREARMS

02:07

FROM ENGAGING INDIVIDUALS FOR

02:09

THAT, WE ENCOUNTER HUNDREDS OF

02:11

PEOPLE WITH ACTIVE WARRANTS.

02:12

OF THE THREE PEOPLE ARRESTED

02:13

THURSDAY NIGHT, ALL HAD

02:16

WARRANTS. ONCE A PERSON JUMPS

02:18

LOOK THEM UP ON THEIR PHONE TO

02:19

SEE IF THEY HAVE A CRIMINAL

02:22

HISTORY, WHICH IS HAPPENING

02:24

RIGHT NOW, AND HE IS BEING

02:25

ARRESTED FROM THE PALM OF THEIR

02:26

HANDS. POLICE RUN THE PERSON'S

02:27

NAME THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND ARE

02:28

IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED IF THEY'RE

02:30

DEALING WITH A RECIDIVIST. THE

02:32

NYPD SAYS IT'S NOT LOOKING TO

02:34

SINGLE OUT RIDERS WHO CAN'T

02:36

AFFORD TO PAY. THIS MAN WHO WAS

02:37

NABBED WAS SPORTING A MONCLER

02:39

JACKET AND GUCCI BAG, A DESIGNER

02:40

OUTFIT WORTH A FEW THOUSAND

02:42

DOLLARS. BUT BY NOT PAYING THE

02:44

$2.90 CENT FARE, HE PUT HIMSELF

02:45

IN THE SPOTLIGHT. HE HAD A

02:48

WARRANT AND WAS IN POSSESSION OF

02:49

THIS PEPPER SPRAY OFF TO THE

02:51

PRECINCT. HE WENT TO GET

02:52

PROCESSED. NOT EVERYONE WHO WAS

02:52

STOPPED IS PUT IN HANDCUFFS,

02:54

THOUGH.

02:57

YOU NEVER KNOW. MAYBE THIS

02:58

PERSON IS A RUNAWAY. NEEDS HELP.

03:00

WE CAN OFFER THEM SERVICES.

03:01

WE'RE NOT LOOKING. WE'RE NOT

03:03

LOOKING TO PUT THOSE PEOPLE IN

03:04

JAIL. WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE

03:05

RECIDIVIST.

03:07

IF THE PERSON DOES NOT HAVE A

03:08

VIOLENT HISTORY AND NOT IN NEED

03:10

OF SERVICES, A CIVIL SUMMONS IS

03:11

USUALLY ISSUED. THIS OPERATION

03:14

IS MADE UP OF THE TRANSIT

03:15

RESPONSE TEAM, WITH MEMBERS OF

03:16

THE COMMUNITY RESPONSE TEAM.

03:18

THEY ARE NOT SUBJECT TO BEING

03:21

ON A FIXED POST, AT A TURNSTILE,

03:22

AT A FIXED POST, ON A PLATFORM,

03:24

BEING A SLAVE TO THE RADIO,

03:25

ANSWERING 911 JOBS ALL DAY.

03:27

THEIR MAIN JOB IS TO BE OUT IN

03:30

ENGAGING WITH CUSTOMERS,

03:32

PROVIDING A SENSE OF SECURITY.

03:34

AND ALTHOUGH SUBWAY CRIME IS

03:37

DOWN, MANY RIDERS STILL DON'T

03:39

SURE ITS PRESENCE IS FELT.

03:41

THESE ARE EXACTLY THE TYPE

03:42

PEOPLE THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE

03:44

A LOW LEVEL OFFENSE AND USE IT

03:47

TO GET VIOLENT PEOPLE OUT OF THE

03:49

BY CARRYING OUT THESE

03:51

OPERATIONS, THEY'RE WORKING TO

03:53

IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR

03:59

HOME SAFELY. AND IN THE THREE

04:01

MINUTES THAT OUR STORY JUST

04:02

AIRED, WE SAW A COUPLE OF LARGE

04:04

GROUPS COME THROUGH HERE. WE

04:07

COUNTED 14 PEOPLE THAT DID NOT

04:08

PAY THEIR SUBWAY FARE COMING

04:09

INTO THE TRAIN STATION HERE. AND

04:10

TO GIVE YOU SOME MORE NUMBERS,

04:13

LAST YEAR, THE NYPD SAYS IT

04:16

ARRESTED 38 EMPLOYEES FOR

04:17

ASSAULTING MTA EMPLOYEES. NOW IF

04:20

WE COMBINE THE ARRESTS OF ALL OF

04:24

THOSE 38 PEOPLE, THAT COMES OUT

04:25

TO 1126 CAREER ARRESTS. WE'RE

04:26

LIVE AT THE BARCLAYS CENTER

04:27

TRAIN STATION IN BROOKLYN.