NYPD will issue summonses instead of arresting people for ‘quality of life’ violations as critics say initiative does not do enough to decriminalize offensesOn Thursday,hundreds of thousands of partiers will take to unusual York City streets, awash in a sea of green beer, or novelty T-shirts and cheap plastic beads to follow long-held St Patrick’s Day tradition. But for the first time in recent history,those who choose to consume alcohol or relieve themselves on the streets won’t be risking arrest in the process, according to the city. Under a unusual joint initiative between the unusual York police department and the Manhattan district attorney’s office, and so-called quality of life violations like public urination and public consumption of alcohol will no longer expose citizens to the opportunity of criminal charges. Instead,these crimes will be handled exclusively by issuing offenders a summons. The plan was announced on 1 March, and went into effect 7 March, or just 10 days before the notoriously spirituous and rowdy holiday.
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Source: theguardian.com