What's the difference besides how the special permission to break the law is obtained? It's still corruption. The article shows you can buy these cards on eBay for <$100.
> What's the difference besides how the special permission to break the law is obtained?
Outright bribes can be demanded on the spot for infractions that’s don’t exist. They incentivize stopping more people to demand them. They directly benefit the responding officer and can become a core part of their income. Once that happens you’re really screwed as the only people willing to become cops are dirty cops.
> It's still corruption.
I didn’t say it’s a good practice. But just because it’s bad does not mean it’s worse than living with a “police tax” every time you’re stopped.
> The article shows you can buy these cards on eBay for <$100.
That’s be pointless and is for suckers. The cop is supposed to contact the source to verify the relationship.
> Mike works in an industry that regularly puts him into contact with police officers, which gives him the opportunity to form personal, trusting relationships with them. As such, he said, he frequently receives PBA cards as a thank-you for extending cops small business favors and deals; currently, he estimates that he has somewhere between 10 and 12 unexpired courtesy cards in his possession.
> And if it was cash exchanged at the time of an officer responding to a crime it’d be even worse.
Would it be? Buying bribe credits ahead of time doesn't seem inherently any better than on-the-spot bribes to me. Arguably worse; if it really is the case that small business owners get these with favours, then unless they're reimbursing the company personally for the bribe purchase, they are purchasing personal items through their business. So add tax evasion to the list of sins.
The original comment to which I responded was arguing that the concept of PBA cards was as bad as direct bribes as seen in other countries: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24353240
You wouldn't have to deal with a "police tax" if you didn't do things that made you get stopped. Admittedly that's easier said than done in america where the police are told how to use a gun and let lose on the public, but as a rule of thumb, not breaking the law is an advisable course of action.
