Video footage captures scooter cops following Critical Mass on Westside Greenway and confiscating cyclist’s video camera while documenting the NYPD issuing false tickets to other cyclists

The trial of the 5BBC lawsuit against the NYPD, which questions the constitutionality of policing tactics used against Critical Mass and other group rides, is over and the judge’s ruling is expected any day now.

Commissioner Raymond Kelly, NYPD spokesperson Paul Browne, and over 15 other NYPD officers were deposed on their roles and knowledge of the policing of the Critical Mass rides in preparation for this lawsuit.

These two edited videos from the most recent Critical Mass ride and excerpts from the depositions give a glimpse into the NYPD’s multi-million dollar campaign to follow, ticket, intimidate and harass Critical Mass bicycle riders.

Video from the 5/29 Critical Mass ride showing an NYPD officer ordering the scooter cops to follow groups of cyclists as they were leaving Union Square and then 4 scooter cops following the ride down the Westside Greenway:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5IPR3h8iBg

Video from the 5/29 Critical Mass ride showing cyclists getting tickets for 4-12(p)(3) which has continually been given out over the years even though it is not a valid ticket and is regularly dismissed in court. Also includes footage of a videographer being harassed and his camera being taken away as he tries to document the scene, another long standing pattern on the Critical Mass rides:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAI9g8Nfpp0

Testimony from Officer Kenneth Wagner confirming the NYPD’s policy of following small groups of cyclist out of Union Square, sometimes as far as to the cyclist’s home and testimony showing Commissioner Raymond Kelly was apparently not aware of this and other questionable tactics of NYPD’s policing of Critical Mass.

http://times-up.org/index.php?page=nypd-testimony-on-following-cyclists-...

For more information on the 5BBC lawsuit go to:
www.5bbc.org/parade