NEW JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — New Jersey’s acting comptroller says courtesy cards handed out by police officers to friends and family have led to a dangerous lack of enforcement for traffic violations.
In a series of body camera videos from 2022, New Jersey Acting Comptroller Kevin Walsh says people hand over courtesy cards when they get pulled over, and then they’re off the hook. He says these account for about ¼ of all stops that result in someone being let go, even after admitting they’ve been drinking in some cases.
“Courtesy cards are an open 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,” Walsh said.
“This kind of preferential treatment isn’t just unfair. It’s dangerous.”
Walsh says there is also a racial element here, as the majority of courtesy card holders are white, and state police are already under the microscope for alleged discrimination.
“We’ve looked at them through the lens of the New Jersey State Police, which is, according to its mission statement, supposed to enforce the laws equally and without bias,” he said.
Walsh says there’s a place for police discretion but it shouldn’t be based on who you know.
Attorney General Matt Platkin says state police perform a dangerous and often thankless job and are also responsible for enforcing laws fairly and even-handedly. Issues raised by the report are under further review.
KYW did not hear back from the New Jersey Policemen's Benevolent Association.