The NYPD cops are becoming increasingly lax when it comes to arresting people for carrying small amounts of pot. Well, technically the NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio and the NYC Police Commisioner Bill Bratton are more relaxed about that "Mary Jane" because they proposed the idea (in early November) that it would be better to issue summonses instead of arrests.
Since NYPD has followed through with the new initiative, marijuana arrests have dropped by 40 percent, according to the New York Post. Just because NYPD is loosening up on arrests doesn't mean that smoking pot in public has become legal. It's still very illegal. And in case you're curious, if you're caught with 25 grams or less of marijuana, you will not be put in jail. However you will receive a ticket or summons that could cost up to $250.
Although people aren't getting arrested as much for possessing small amounts of pot, tickets for weed violations have soared. According to the New York Post, more than 13,000 people caught with 25 grams or less of marijuana were served with a summons and more than 16,000 people received tickets.
Though not all cops in NYC are treating the new policy equally. The New York Post reports that Bronx cops in the 45th Precinct issued more tickets (415) than arrests (48) while Bronx cops in the 52nd Precinct issued more arrests (720) than tickets (168). The new proposal took effect on Nov. 19.
