NY Mayoral Race ERUPTS Over Traffic Violations

People crossing street near the U S Capitol building

Andrew Cuomo, who created NYC’s speed camera program as governor, has been caught flagrantly violating his own traffic laws during his mayoral campaign, accumulating multiple speeding tickets in school zones with his Dodge Charger muscle car.

Key Takeaways

  • Cuomo has received multiple traffic violations since launching his NYC mayoral campaign, including speeding in school zones 4 times in just 35 days.
  • Cuomo paid $365 in fines from March to May for various violations including speeding, parking in bus lanes, and meter violations.
  • Critics call Cuomo hypocritical as he signed the 2013 bill creating NYC’s speed-camera program that he’s now repeatedly violating.
  • As governor, Cuomo avoided traffic penalties by being driven by state troopers, but would not have this exemption as mayor.
  • Fellow mayoral candidate Brad Lander has an even worse record with 136 summonses since 2013, highlighting a pattern of traffic law disregard among NYC political elites.

Rules for Thee, Not for Me: Cuomo’s Traffic Violations

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s NYC mayoral campaign has hit a speed bump—literally. Since launching his campaign in March, Cuomo has racked up an impressive array of traffic violations, particularly in his Dodge Charger muscle car. Records show the mayoral hopeful has been caught speeding in school zones multiple times, running red lights, and accumulating parking tickets at a remarkable pace. The pattern of violations directly contradicts the traffic safety laws Cuomo himself helped implement during his time as governor, raising serious questions about his commitment to public safety and equal application of the law.

“Cuomo’s rogue riding is the latest example of his ‘do as I say, not as I do’-style of governing,” said rival Curtis Sliwa, Republican mayoral who added Cuomo is the one who signed a 2013 bill into law creating NYC’s speed-camera program.

Between March 6 and May 2 alone, Cuomo paid $365 in fines for a variety of infractions. These included four separate speeding tickets in school zones, parking in a bus lane, and failing to feed parking meters. Even more concerning, Cuomo was caught on camera running a red light and blocking a left-turn lane during campaign events. This behavior represents a stark contrast to the traffic safety initiatives he championed while in office, particularly the city’s speed-camera program that has generated millions in revenue from ordinary New Yorkers.

A Pattern of Privileged Behavior

What makes Cuomo’s traffic violations particularly noteworthy is his prior insulation from such consequences. As governor, Cuomo enjoyed the privilege of being chauffeured by state troopers, effectively shielding him from traffic camera penalties. Now, as a private citizen campaigning for mayor, he faces the same enforcement mechanisms as everyday New Yorkers—and appears to be struggling with the adjustment. If elected mayor, Cuomo would not have the same exemptions for official city vehicles that he enjoyed as governor, raising questions about whether he believes traffic laws apply to him at all.

“Andrew Cuomo racked up school zone and bus lane violations within weeks of moving to the city to run for mayor. These are the very enforcement programs he helped create, and if he had actually lived here longer, there’s no doubt the list would be a lot longer. Once again, it’s rules for everyone else and a free pass for Andrew,” said Curtis Sliwa, Republican mayoral candidate.

Cuomo’s campaign has attempted to downplay the violations. His spokeswoman Esther Jensen claimed he was “committed to public safety” and wasn’t driving “reckless” when filmed running the red light,” according to Jensen, the governor was “guided through a green light” and then “paused mid-turn” to let a pedestrian cross safely before proceeding once the “path was clear.” This explanation strains credibility given the pattern of violations, and represents the kind of elite excuse-making that ordinary citizens could never successfully employ with traffic enforcement.

A Broader Problem Among NYC’s Political Class

While Cuomo’s traffic record is concerning, he’s not alone among NYC mayoral candidates with a checkered driving history. Comptroller Brad Lander has amassed an even more troubling 136 summonses since 2013, primarily for parking violations. This pattern suggests a broader issue within New York City’s political class—a sense that traffic laws designed for ordinary citizens don’t apply to those who write and enforce them. The Dodge Charger involved in Cuomo’s violations is reportedly driven by multiple people, creating plausible deniability about who was behind the wheel during specific infractions.

These revelations have sparked legitimate questions about whether candidates who routinely disregard traffic safety laws can be trusted to govern responsibly. For conservative voters concerned about law and order, the apparent hypocrisy is striking—politicians who impose strict enforcement on citizens while behaving as though those same rules don’t apply to them. In a city struggling with crime and diminishing quality of life, this privileged attitude toward basic civic responsibility sends exactly the wrong message about leadership and accountability in New York’s highest office.

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