Picture the Homeless

Generally, when the police ticket and arrest people on the street for quality of life offenses, they do not have a warrant.

Arrests without a warrant;, by police officer; when and where authorized – New York Criminal Procedure Law §140.10:

An officer may arrest a person for:

1) a) any offense committed in his presence (including violations)

1) b) any crime he believes the person committed, in the officer’s presence or not (misdemeanors and above), WHEN

2) a) a violation was committed in the officer’s area of employment

2) b) a misdemeanor or above was committed -– whether or not in the officer’s area of employment

* Note that an officer may not arrest you for a violation that was committed outside of his presence