NYPD officer lands $175K settlement over ‘courtesy cards’ that help drivers get out of traffic stops
NEW YORK — A New York City police officer has reached a $175,000 settlement with the city in a lawsuit challenging the use of the “courtesy cards” that officers hand out to friends and family members to get out of traffic stops and other minor violations, according to an agreement filed Monday in federal court in Manhattan.
The agreement ends a lawsuit filed last year by Officer Mathew Bianchi, who alleged that he was disciplined by his superiors for not using the cards. The settlement itself, however, does not substantially change the way the cards are used by NYPD officers.
The laminated cards, which typically feature an image of an NYPD badge and the name of one of the city’s police unions, are not officially recognized by the police department but have long been seen as a perk of the job.
The city’s police unions give them to members, who then distribute them to people who want to advertise their connections to the NYPD, often to get out of minor violations like speeding or not wearing a seat belt.
Bianchi said his opinion on the courtesy cards hasn’t changed. The 40-year-old Staten Island officer said there needs to be more oversight on how many of the cards are given to officers and better protections for those who speak out against their abuse.
“It’s a form of corruption,” he said by phone Tuesday. “My approach to how I deal with them is not going to change, even if a boss tries to punish me. I’m still going to go out there and I’m going to do exactly what I think is right.”
Bianchi’s attorney John Scola said he hoped the officer’s efforts would inspire others within the department to come forward as whistleblowers.
“Officer Bianchi showed remarkable courage by standing up to the NYPD and doing what was right despite significant risks to his career,” he said.
Mayor Eric Adams’ administration confirmed the terms of the settlement but declined to comment further.
“Resolving this matter was in the best interest of all parties,” Nicholas Paolucci, a spokesman for the legal department, wrote in an email Tuesday.
In the lawsuit filed last year, Bianchi alleged that current and retired officers had access to hundreds of cards, which they gave away in exchange for a discount on a meal or a home improvement project.
He also claimed that he had been reprimanded several times for writing tickets to friends and family members of officers, even after they presented a courtesy card.
The final straw came in the summer of 2022 when he wrote a ticket to a driver who turned out to be a friend of the NYPD’s top officer, Chief Jeffrey Maddrey. Bianchi said he was immediately fired from his job in the department’s traffic unit and demoted to night patrol.
Police declined to comment and referred questions to the legal department.
The Police Benevolent Association, the NYPD’s largest police union, did not respond to an email seeking comment Tuesday. The city’s police unions have long faced strict supervision about the cards because of the appearance of corruption and their appearance for sale on eBay.
Bianchi said Tuesday that he has since switched to a day shift, but that his career opportunities are limited by the lawsuit.
“I’ve literally applied for almost everything since I got kicked back, and they’ve rejected me from everything,” he said. “They’re not secretive about why, and I’ve had supervisors tell me why I can’t go anywhere.”
But the police veteran, who has been with the force for nine years, says he has no regrets about filing the lawsuit.
“I’m glad I didn’t just take the punishment and the retribution,” he said. “I’m glad I did something.”