After backing down in August, the NYPD is making another attempt to keep you and yours out of the streets. As the New York Times hardly reported, the NYPD introduced the proposed changes to parade permit regulations yesterday.

10 or more bicyclists or pedestrians, who travel more than two city blocks without fully complying with traffic laws, including jaywalking, are required to have a parade permit.

30 or more bicyclists or pedestrians who obey traffic laws are required to have a parade permit.

Class field trip? Get a permit. Camping out for new kicks? Get a permit. Funeral procession? Get a permit. Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn has already voiced her support for the NYPD’s regulations as a “substantial improvement over regulations proposed earlier.” We do not consider giving the NYPD practically unrestricted power to arrest any ten or more people, rather than only two or more, a “substantial improvement.” Let’s put the pressure on to stop this again.

Speak out at the public hearing on November 27 at 1 Police Plaza. Until then, write to:

Assistant Deputy Commissioner Thomas P Doepfner
New York City Police Department
1 Police Plaza, Room 1406
New York, New York 10038

The full text of the NYPD’s proposed parade regulation chages is available.

Photo of 10 bicyclists (okay, only 9 in the photo) who don’t need a parade permit from Untitledname.