On Staten Island’s North Shore, residents say an off-duty NYPD officer at the wheel of a white pickup has turned everyday trips into near-heart-stopping close calls. They describe the truck ripping through school zones and intersections at speeds that feel more action movie than neighborhood commute, and say the string of incidents looks less like an occasional lapse and more like a troubling routine.
What neighbors saw
People living near the 120th Precinct told Streetsblog that they have had multiple near misses with what they believe is the same white Ram 1500. Their accounts include a high-speed U-turn near Richmond Terrace and Hamilton Avenue and a pedestrian who recalled feeling that the truck "could hit me at any second" while they were in the crosswalk at Forest Avenue and Willowbrook Road. Those stories line up with a camera record showing that the vehicle associated with the officer has received 547 camera-issued speeding and red-light violations since 2022. The reporting also notes that the NYPD first characterized the citations as unrelated to his duties and later said the matter was under review, according to Streetsblog.
Officials respond
Mayor Zohran Mamdani did not mince words in April, telling reporters that the officer’s record was "unacceptable" and that City Hall was "having a conversation internally" about next steps. A transcript from the Mayor’s Office shows he stressed that everyone on the city payroll is expected to "set an example" on traffic safety, according to the Mayor’s Office.
Albany pushes a fix
The controversy has given fresh momentum to a state proposal that would require "intelligent speed assistance" devices for repeat offenders, language that appears in the 2026 budget bill now posted online. The measure would let cities order speed-limiting technology installed in vehicles that rack up a set number of camera tickets, a step advocates argue would sideline dangerous repeat drivers before they cause a crash. The bill text is posted on the New York State Senate’s site (New York State Senate), and safety groups have publicly urged lawmakers to act quickly (Transportation Alternatives).
Legal context
Under New York City’s camera enforcement system, Notices of Liability are issued to vehicle owners and, unlike tickets written by officers at the scene, they do not add DMV points. That means even hundreds of 50 dollar fines do not automatically trigger a license suspension. The city’s speed-camera FAQ lays out how the program works and explains why these violations are treated as civil notices instead of moving-offense points, as detailed by NYC DOT.
For now, the pickup remains linked to an officer at the 120th Precinct, and locals say they are bracing for the next close call while the NYPD’s internal review plays out and Albany hashes out any speed-limiter requirements. Advocates and families argue that the days ahead will reveal whether city and state leaders are willing to turn public outrage into rules that actually stop serial reckless drivers before tragedy strikes.
