traffic police with no traffic

Today is the Puerto Rican Day parade.  I stay far away from Fifth Avenue with its throngs of celebratory people, and all that implies.

As I am crossing the street to go to Agata, I notice three things:

1. A driver makes a right turn on red — this is illegal in NYC.
2. A bike rider almost hits me as he pedals through a red light (this, too, is illegal).
3. There are two police men on either side of the street, both dressed in bright yellow, announcing they are traffic police.  Neither does anything as they watch these two offenders pass by.

So I ask one of them, “Hey, how come you didn’t stop that biker?”  He responds, “We are not responsible for moving violations.”  This surprises me.  I had no idea there were subdivisions within the subdivision of traffic police. I try to imagine the various departments:

Traffic Police:  Parking

Traffic Police: Moving Vehicles

Traffic Police:  Hit and Runs

Traffic Police: Monitoring No-Standing Zones

Traffic Police: Accidents

Traffic Police: Crosswalk Specialists

Traffic Police: School and Bus Crossings (or maybe these are two different groups)

Traffic Police: Parades

But these two policemen are in none of these groups. No.  According to the one I speak to, they are there to:  Keep traffic moving in case there is increased activity resulting from the parade,  a long six blocks from where they are leisurely hanging out, and have been for the past three hours.

Here's a view of the traffic these two men are watching.