"Jimmy Justice" Videos: Vigilante Films Cops Breaking The Law In New York

He calls himself "Jimmy Justice," a self-styled "cop-arazzi," armed only with a video camera as he prowls the streets of New York looking for law enforcement officers who are breaking the law. His targets are illegally parked city government vehicles -- particularly cars of traffic cops blocking bus stops, sitting in "no parking" zones or double-parked.

Cop cars blocking fire hydrants make him particularly incensed.

"Something like that is just despicable," Jimmy fumed, pointing to a police enforcement vehicle parked next to a fire hydrant on 33rd Street on Manhattan's West Side on a muggy July afternoon. "They're never allowed to block a fire hydrant -- but they do it."

He posts his best videos on YouTube and sends regular e-mail to the union representing the city's traffic enforcement agents, pointing out the most egregious parking offenses. And he has gotten results, he said, with some parking enforcers being fined because of his videos.

"I'm using a video camera as a weapon," he said. "I believe a video does not lie."

Keep reading here.

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Watch videos of "Jimmy Justice" in action.

Comments

[templeofdoom]

Next video: cops screeching to a halt in front of a hydrant to jump out and apprehend Jimmy.

[PhantomAviator]

..

Just WAIT. The NYPD is trying to have filming the police crimmialized as we speak. They claim it violates privacy "rules".

Remember, they make the rule to FIND the exceptions.

.

[henrydavidthrow]

If we aren't a police state yet, we soon will be.

[Faxus]

We already are. Talk to some cops and they'll tell you about the secret files they keep on people.

[FilipeCastro]

I think that Jimmy should see a shrink, do some aerobics, or perhaps get a girlfriend. All that hatred and anger sound a bit misplaced. And he should show us that he can be as obnoxious to a white male officer as he can be to African American women.

[gitrdone]

I think he may of been a little tough on that one woman in the cafe, but if lives are at stake, there is no excuse! No whatsoever!

[thegreatgiginthesky]

That was the point. There was a fire truck that went past and you have no idea where that truck is headed. Meanwhile lives are being put at risk because some cop wants to get his/her donut fix.

[realityczech4u]

If 'lives were at stake', believe me, the FDNY are bright enough (probably much to your surprise) to figure out that the cop was in the cafe and to come in and get her to move her car. Our boy Jimmy is jumpstarting some sort of career path in the spotlight by harassing traffic cops. So far he has gotten himself an appearance on MSNBC, the local news channel and also has himself written up in Wikipedia. Karma will come his way.

[Amennyc]

Why are African women not equal to a white male other than sex?

[Faxus]

She's a total boob and needs to lose some weight. How's that? She's a disgrace to the uniform.

[Amennyc]

*African American women

[michaelescher]

Beautiful.

You go Jimmy Justice!

And let me know if you need a donation to your legal defense fund. I'll donate in a heartbeat.

[VoiceofV]

Those who enforce the law against others have no excuse for breaking it themselves.

We need 300 million "cop-arazzis" in this Nation.

The police work for the People, they are not an occupying army, and they must know at all times that their role is to protect and serve the People, who are watching them to assure that they do.

Honest police officers will appreciate public attention and support, and by consistently following the law themselves, they will consistenly earn the respect of the People.

Dishonest police officers who themselves break the laws they would enforce against others deserve neither our support nor respect, they are a shameful stain on all police, and they should know that every citizen is watching them at all times, and that the People will demand that they either follow our laws or resign.

[michaelescher]

Yes!

[chronic]

A-men!

[PuffDragon]

Just last Friday, I witnessed not one but two cop cars, no flashing lights or sirens, zooming through a red light to make a right turn (which is illegal in New York city) while pedestrians were still there in the crosswalk.l I wish I had a video camera on hand. They were turning right onto 9th Ave at about 41st St, (the South wall of the South Port Authority building.)

The bus driver commented on it too - they broke many rules with one move.

[poppyseed]

God, I hate New Yorkers. Arrogant, rude,

Where else in the world would traffic cops think its okay to block a fire hydrant during a fire, and some a*hole with a camera think its okay to scream in someone's face. He's got the video evidence, why does he have to make a spectacle of himself with the embarrassing name of "Jimmy Justice" and harass the traffic cops. If he was such a brave crusader for justice, why no vids on him screaming at regular cops who have the power to demand his ID and to arrest him, because he's a cheap coward. When I originally read the intro I was sympathetic to Jimmy, after watching the video, I say a pox on all their houses.

Jimmy Justice, my ass. New Yorkers, you all deserve each other.

[jctripp]

You right about Jimmy but, with all due respect, wrong about New Yorkers. We are 20 million people, certainly not all of us fall into the stereotype. If so, that's one hell of a big stereotype. I love New York because of its diversity, its beauty and the opportunities it offers. There is no typical New Yorker just as there is no typical Southerner (I should know I lived there for 10 years). So, go easy on the "New Yorkers are rude" thing. We are nice and we like you.

[Amennyc]

Go New York!

[DEMolition]

Sorry to burst your bubble there Poppy, but cops everywhere behave pretty much the same. And I'll bet you'd never have the guts to say that stuff about New York to a real New Yorker's face. Where the hell are you from that's so special? We're an international center of art, business, and politics. We have six professional sports teams. You can get food delivered in the middle of the night. We have beautiful parks. Basically everything a human could possibly desire. But I guess none of it matters because Poppyseed says we're rude. Too bad I guess.

[dutchman]

When I moved from Omaha to Boston 20 years ago, I was initially fooled into thinking the same thing. Until I was involved in an apartment fire and lost everything I owned. To this day I get misty eyed thinking about the tremendous outpouring of support I received from my fellow "Massholes". Scratch beneath the surface and we're all human. Too bad so many people, like you, can't see that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfKdbWwruY&feature=user

[sink]

I like what he's doing, and I know he's a NYC resident so different standards of effectiveness seem to apply, but I lose his strategy because of his tactics. He's trying to be as rude as possible in order to incite an incident of some sort.

Blech.

Don't feed the troll.

[jctripp]

I live in New York City and bike it every day so I see a lot. There are certainly abuses of authority occurring but I think he has his own agenda here. He is definitely going after the soft targets, I would really like to see him confront a couple of white officers in this manner. The deserve the heat as much as these black women do. That said, I would say there is not rampant problem here, the real issues to me are the issuing of tickets for parking, towing of vehicles under surreptitious circumstances (no standing means no parking for those unaware) and the ridiculous number of delivery vehicles, taxis and cars that crowd the city. Additionally, the honking or horns and use of sirens under all conditions can make some parts of the city (Herald Square, for example) unbearable. I work for six months near Macy's and it was a constant barrage of noise to the point where I had to wear headphones. So, Jimmy, you might have a point with what you are doing. But I would suggest you widen your focus and try to get some variety in who you cite. There's plenty of juicy material out there aside from fat black traffic cops. Now go get 'em buddy!

[PatA]

Jimmy Justice! Come film the guards in the place I work. You'll stay busy 24/7.

[clearthinker2008]

Why is he only targeting black female police officers? Because the white ones and the men would arrest him or kick is a$$. African American women has to be have the fewest number of members on the force, yet he can only find them making u-turns and parking by hydrants? Whatever.

[marchamlin]

Why does it matter what their gender or race is? They are traffic cops who are breaking the same laws that they supposed to enforce. This hypocracy is the reason why cops get a bad name.

I will say that he needs to act like an adult when he confronts them, though.

[MarkEbner59]

You are obviously not from NYC.

[szlevi]

Well said. :)

[bugsbonzai]

I'll continue to contend that cops ignoring the law like this or more egregious infractions (beatings, profiling, racism, corruption) can be solved by putting IMMENSE pressure on police management. There will always be bad apples on the police force. Always. But if we, the People, put enough pressure on the bosses, the captains, the commissioners, the leaders of the precincts, the "good ol' boy" attitude of cops ignoring the laws they should enforce will decrease. But when the management fears for their own jobs, they have less of an interest in maintaining an environment that excuses, ignores, justifies or absolves bad behavior, and more of an interest in

When MANAGEMENT refuses to sweep actions by police under the rug and holds their officers responsible for similar and more significant infractions and illegal activity, that's when the problem decreases. When management feels that incentives for protecting "their own" outweighs duty and justice under the law, bad cops go free for activities normal citizens get fines and hard time for.

[instagladiator]

You have to take into consideration the unions. Remember, the police do not serve the pubic, as is commonly portrayed or thought, they serve the unions to retain their benefits, etc. - case closed!

[Truthandreason]

Are ALL NYC cops fat?

[MaracaKabob]

Just the fat ones.

[clearthinker2008]

Are All NYC cops Black Women?

[WAstateliberal]

I wonder if he knows that most state traffic laws specifically exempt law enforcement vehicles? We just got a new law here in Washington prohibiting driving while talking on your cell phone. One of many laws that on-duty law enforcement are exempt from.

[AmandaBC]

"I wonder if he knows that most state traffic laws specifically exempt law enforcement vehicles?"

No way this is going to fly...

Law enforcement vehicles may be exempt when there's a REAL --as in work-related-- reason to park in a restricted area. Certainly it doesn't apply to a cop blocking access to a hydrant while getting his/her breakfast at Dunkin' Donuts...