(Note: This is an edited version of a post I did about a year ago. It has relevance now in light of the acquittal of 71st precinct officers in the Michael Mineo case.)
I told the officer and his partner that I did not see or know that there ever were yellow lines there. I got a ticket. Not only that, the cop, freaked out by my attitude and unerring syntax in speaking, actually followed me home, driving off after he and his partner saw me turning into the driveway of my home indicated on my driver's license.
Fast Forward. I took pictures showing that there were no yellow lines. I got the state senator (Eric Adams, whose office is on the block) to sign a letter saying there were no yellow lines, and the local Community Board district manager to sign one as well.
In traffic court, the officer stands up and boldly states the alleged infraction and at least twice describes the "clear yellow lines" that I had crossed. He was stunned and hung his head low as I presented page after page of evidence, including blow-ups of photos showing there were no such lines, which led the judge to find me not guilty.
But what would have happened to a citizen without a camera or unable to easily contact officials who would back him up? And how often are police just making up charges, just to have an extra ticket on the books or to harrass someone?
I recall my frustration also, right after the encounter with the police officers, as I tried to complain to community affairs officers at the precinct.
This is not to say that the tatoo man, Mineo, was a victim or not. He surely seemed to have butt wounds that, I suspect, he did not inflict upon himself.
But this post is to say that I had my own street encounter with an officer from the 71st, and he, excuse the expression, lied his butt off.
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