To Protect and Swerve: NYPD Cop Has 547 Speeding Tickets • Hacker News Board

Re: To Protect and Swerve: NYPD Cop Has 547 Speeding Tickets

#151

Post by ToValueFunfetti » Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 12:59 PM UTC

ceejayoz wrote: post #145

ToValueFunfetti wrote: post #137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you saying you don't trust the people I mentioned for the reasons I mentioned? That a doctor who has demostrated a reckless disregard for his health outside of the law etc. etc.? Like, I get why trust is more important in this context, but I don't think it's at all normal to assume someone can't do their job because of decisions they make in their personal life.

Their point was pretty clear: you can’t opt out of a cop you don’t trust. You can opt out of seeing the unhealthy doctor.

It was, and I was pretty clear that I understood that. It dodges my point, though, and I've asked that they acknowledge it: should you distrust unhealthy doctors, not can you? Is unhealthiness in one's personal life disqualifying for the ability to provide stellar health advice in one's professional life? Should cops be held to the standard of being exemplary citizens who don't even speed? Have you ever sped? Do you know anyone who has never sped?

Re: To Protect and Swerve: NYPD Cop Has 547 Speeding Tickets

#152

Post by ceejayoz » Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 1:32 PM UTC

ToValueFunfetti wrote: post #151

ceejayoz wrote: post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Their point was pretty clear: you can’t opt out of a cop you don’t trust. You can opt out of seeing the unhealthy doctor.

It was, and I was pretty clear that I understood that. It dodges my point, though, and I've asked that they acknowledge it: should you distrust unhealthy doctors, not can you? Is unhealthiness in one's personal life disqualifying for the ability to provide stellar health advice in one's professional life? Should cops be held to the standard of being exemplary citizens who don't even speed? Have you ever sped? Do you…

> should you distrust unhealthy doctors?

Maybe! Is their health status directly related to their specialty? Is it a readily curable condition? Is their advice reasonable?

Or are they a lung cancer specialist chain smoking cigarettes at the appointment?

> Should cops be held to the standard of being exemplary citizens who don't even speed?

Yes, cops should be held to a higher standard than the general public. Being a cop while committing a crime should be an aggravating circumstance in the justice system, not a get-out-of-jail card.

Should we expect perfection? No. But 547 speeding tickets is unacceptable.

Re: To Protect and Swerve: NYPD Cop Has 547 Speeding Tickets

#153

Post by ButlerianJihad » Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 1:39 PM UTC

ToValueFunfetti wrote: post #83

nkrisc wrote: post #76

> The expert, former cop turned criminal justice professor Michael Alcazar, said Giovansanti should face “serious discipline.” But that’s not happening — an NYPD spokesperson shrugged off the suggestion of punishment because Giovansanti’s tickets are “not related to his job or his duties in the department.” This angers me. Police officers are granted special privileges that ordinary citizens are not, and should be he…

The same way we can trust an overweight doctor, a depressed therapist, a housecleaner who doesn't make their bed, or me to verify code I push to corporate repos even while I vibecode apps at home for fun without paying attention. I don't understand the basis for applying this standard to cops.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donatism

Re: To Protect and Swerve: NYPD Cop Has 547 Speeding Tickets

#154

Post by ToValueFunfetti » Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 3:34 PM UTC

ceejayoz wrote: post #152

ToValueFunfetti wrote: post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It was, and I was pretty clear that I understood that. It dodges my point, though, and I've asked that they acknowledge it: should you distrust unhealthy doctors, not can you? Is unhealthiness in one's personal life disqualifying for the ability to provide stellar health advice in one's professional life? Should cops be held to the standard of being exemplary citizens who don't even speed? Have you ever sped? Do you…

> should you distrust unhealthy doctors? Maybe! Is their health status directly related to their specialty? Is it a readily curable condition? Is their advice reasonable? Or are they a lung cancer specialist chain smoking cigarettes at the appointment? > Should cops be held to the standard of being exemplary citizens who don't even speed? Yes, cops should be held to a higher standard than the general public. Being a…

Yes, the doctor's advice is reasonable and no the doctor is not smoking at a lung cancer appointment. The premise is that they are messing up off the job. If you think an oncologist shouldn't be able to get as good of a job because they smoke cigarettes or eat burgers, that is where we disagree. Apart from calling that illiberal or saying it has negative utility in its consequences, I don't know how to argue that; it's a values difference. I appreciate you actually taking the position, though.

Same for your cop positions. You say they should, I say they shouldn't. If it's clarifying, I can add that I agree that cops should be held to a higher standard while being cops, ie. that things like qualified immunity are working in the wrong direction, and that they shouldn't be held to a lower standard, on- or off-duty.

As far as I'm concerned, speeding tickets in the course of your private life are between you and the ticketing authority. If he's not paying his fines, if he's violating the social contract, sure, escalate. If we want to punish speeders with more than fines because of endangerment, like the article strongly suggests, sure, change the law. But as long as he's compliant with his fines and we're only giving him fines, it's not just to continue to pile on consequences.

Re: To Protect and Swerve: NYPD Cop Has 547 Speeding Tickets

#155

Post by lofaszvanitt » Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 10:09 PM UTC

kennywinker wrote: post #73

lofaszvanitt wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

So you’re consistent in your defense of victimless crimes, yes? If he was shooting heroin in his off hours, you’re ok with that? If he’s smuggling drugs regularly, you’re ok with that? If he’s engaging in prostitution, you’re ok with that? Just want to be sure you have a logically consistent position here.

Did he harm anyone? Nope. Everyone differs. Someone can drive as a drunkard, some not.

Rules put people on equal footing, while they are vastly different entities. Just like in school. Whats good for some children are not good at all for talented ones.

So, what are you babbling about?

Re: To Protect and Swerve: NYPD Cop Has 547 Speeding Tickets

#156

Post by lofaszvanitt » Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 10:09 PM UTC

kjkjadksj wrote: post #66

lofaszvanitt wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

You are right. Why drive at a speed where you can merely maim someone when you can drive at a speed that will inevitably explode them like a grape between the fingers instead? After all, no accidents. Yet.

After 500+ speedings? He is a good driver, that's all.