[op00to]

It’s not the NYPD, it’s the union. In NJ, when I was given one of those cards from a friend’s father as a teen, I was told the card would be surrendered if I got a moving violation and I’d answer to him later.

I threw the card out, it was useless trash.

[HWR_14]

I mean, by "surrendered" he meant he personally would take it back. And that was probably just meant to make you drive normally and use it to get out of tickets, not as a carte blanche to break every traffic law flagrantly.

[devilbunny]

I don't live in NY or NJ, but from some reading in the past, a card like this will get you out of a minor violation - speeding < 15 mph over the limit, or a rolling stop at a sign. It might get you out of a bigger one, but the officer on the scene can and will confiscate the card and take it up with the issuing officer directly.

It's still dirty, but the system is not completely without checks and balances.

[lesuorac]

But the existing system (involving courts) was determined by individuals who were rather directly voted on by the citizens.

This system of out-of-jail-free cards was decided by a separate group of individuals. If the elected representatives wanted police & friends to be above the law they could've done so and in fact for police they often have (Sovereign Immunity / Qualified Immunity) but for friends they didn't.

[op00to]

I was told the officer would take it in lieu of writing me a ticket, and the card would get back to my friends dad.