NYPD Stops Arresting People for Minor Crimes in Manhattan

A number of offenses that could have landed New Yorkers in handcuffs will now result in just a summons. 

People who commit low-level crimes — like littering, public urination, taking up two subway seats or public consumption of alcohol — will no longer be subject to arrest in Manhattan starting Monday.

Before Monday's policy went into effect, officers had to arrest someone committing a low-level crime if he or she had an open summons. More than 1 million New Yorkers have open summonses for failing to appear in court, according to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, NBC New York reports.

Mayor Bill de Blasio, NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton and Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance announced on Tuesday that people who commit minor offenses in the borough would be issued summonses rather than being slapped in cuffs, unless there is a demonstrated public safety reason to arrest a suspect.