Councilmember Chris Banks introduced legislation to bar NYPD officers from issuing tickets for spitting after a video of an arrest at the 73rd Precinct stationhouse in Brownsville, Brooklyn, surfaced online. The incident, captured on the evening of September 24, 2026, shows an officer first handing a spitting citation to a man and then minutes later physically restraining, throwing and handcuffing him.
The proposal follows public outcry and criticism of the practice of issuing spitting citations, which have been used by NYPD officers in the past. Rev. Kevin McCall and community members were among those calling for a change.
The legislation would prohibit officers from issuing spitting tickets, aiming to address concerns raised by the video and the broader debate over the enforcement of the ordinance.