In New York, traffic violation cameras operate continuously, but the fines they issue are civil, not criminal, in nature. This allows drivers to accumulate hundreds of tickets without the risk of losing their license. An investigation revealed that a vehicle linked to a New York Police Department (NYPD) officer received 547 violations from traffic cameras over the past few years. Despite this, he not only kept his license but also continues to serve, issuing tickets to other drivers for speeding.
Details of Officer James Giovansanti’s case
Starting in 2022, a Ram 1500 pickup truck registered to Staten Island officer James Giovansanti received 547 tickets from cameras for speeding and running red lights. The total amount of these violations exceeds $36,000. In 2025 alone, 187 such incidents were recorded, averaging approximately one violation every two days.
Who was behind the wheel?
It is important to note that cameras capture vehicles, not drivers. There is no public evidence that Giovansanti himself was behind the wheel during each of these violations. It is also unknown whether any of these incidents were related to emergency situations. NYCStreetsBlog attempted to contact the officer for comment but received no response, leaving many questions unanswered.
We went to Staten Island to track down New York City’s second-worst driver: He’s an @NYPDnews officer who has been caught blasting through school zones or running red lights in his truck more than 547 times since 2022.
Geography and nature of the violations
It is known that most violations were recorded along the north shore of Staten Island, particularly on roads near schools and densely populated residential areas. In New York, speed cameras only activate when a vehicle exceeds the limit by at least 11 mph. This means each violation likely occurred at a speed of 41 mph or more in a 30 mph zone. City authorities call such violations dangerous for citizens.
Too often there are no consequences in the criminal justice system for this type of outrageous behavior. Clearly, it’s time for that to change. My hope and expectation is that Asil Assaidi will be held fully accountable for his actions.
Reaction from the police commissioner and the public
In her post, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch harshly criticized drivers who perform dangerous maneuvers, calling it a safety issue. However, she likely did not expect that many people would ask her about Officer Giovansanti in response. “Commissioner, can you also hold James Giovansanti accountable? After all, he works for you,” one user wrote. “It’s interesting how NYPD cops’ constantly dangerous and reckless driving never has consequences, isn’t it? Obviously, it’s long past time for that to change,” another added.
NYPD’s position and the issue of double standards
The NYPD stated that these violations are not related to the officer’s official duties, and there are no public records of disciplinary actions for them. This may comply with the department’s internal rules, but it creates an uncomfortable dissonance that appears as outright hypocrisy. A vehicle linked to a police officer is constantly caught speeding, while the department continues to enforce the same laws across the city. Is there a sensible way we control speed? The NYPD seems in no hurry to answer this question.
This situation highlights a fundamental flaw in New York’s traffic violation penalty system. The lack of criminal liability for violations recorded by cameras creates an environment where drivers, including those tasked with enforcing the law, can accumulate hundreds of tickets with impunity. This not only undermines trust in law enforcement but also calls into question the effectiveness of the video surveillance system itself, which was designed to improve road safety. The lack of a clear response from NYPD leadership to this specific case only reinforces the impression of double standards, where rules do not exist for some, while others bear full responsibility.