Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, now running for NYC mayor, has been caught violating the very traffic laws he helped create, receiving multiple speeding tickets in school zones and bus lanes within just weeks of launching his campaign.
Key Takeaways
- Cuomo’s Dodge Charger received four speeding tickets in just 35 days, accumulating $365 in fines between March and May.
- The former governor was filmed running a red light and blocking traffic lanes during campaign events.
- Republican rival Curtis Sliwa blasted Cuomo’s hypocrisy for violating the same traffic laws he implemented as governor.
- As governor, Cuomo avoided traffic penalties by being chauffeured by state troopers, a privilege he would not have as mayor.
- Mayoral candidate Brad Lander has an even worse record with 136 traffic summonses since 2013.
Cuomo’s Growing List of Traffic Violations
Since launching his NYC mayoral campaign in March, Andrew Cuomo has quickly accumulated a concerning record of traffic violations. His Dodge Charger muscle car was caught speeding in school zones four times in just 35 days, resulting in multiple tickets and fines. Between March 6 and May 2, Cuomo paid $365 in fines for various infractions including speeding, parking in bus lanes, and failing to feed parking meters. These violations are particularly problematic given that Cuomo himself signed the 2013 bill that created NYC’s speed-camera program while serving as governor.
Clearly a danger to himself and all New Yorkers. Cuomo puts the pedal to the metal in new sports car. Racks up multiple speeding tickets in school zones.
Article: https://t.co/i75srL4tNwFormer Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been putting the pedal to the metal since moving back to the… pic.twitter.com/QWvKX1Sv4f
— Arts, Politics & Culture (@rosewdc) June 21, 2025
The situation worsened when Cuomo was filmed running a red light and blocking a left-turn lane during campaign events. His spokeswoman, Esther Jensen, attempted to defend these actions by claiming he was “guided through a green light” and then “paused mid-turn” to let a pedestrian cross safely. Jensen insisted that Cuomo is “committed to public safety” and wasn’t driving “reckless” during these incidents. However, the growing list of violations suggests a pattern of disregard for traffic laws that many New Yorkers are required to follow.
Political Fallout and Accusations of Hypocrisy
Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa has seized on these infractions as evidence of Cuomo’s hypocrisy. “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 mayor. who added Cuomo is the one who signed a 2013 bill into law creating NYC’s speed-camera program.
“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.
The criticism highlights a troubling double standard. As governor, Cuomo was largely shielded from traffic penalties because he was chauffeured by state troopers in official vehicles, which are exempt from such enforcement. Now that he’s campaigning as a private citizen, he’s suddenly facing the consequences of the very traffic enforcement system he helped implement. If elected mayor, Cuomo would not enjoy the same exemptions for official city vehicles that he had as governor.
A Wider Problem Among NYC Politicians
Cuomo isn’t the only mayoral candidate with traffic issues. Comptroller Brad Lander has an even more troubling record, with a staggering 136 traffic summonses since 2013, primarily for parking violations. This pattern of disregard for traffic laws among those seeking to lead the city raises serious questions about their commitment to public safety and respect for the law. When our political leaders routinely violate the very laws they create and enforce, it undermines public trust in government and suggests a troubling “rules for thee but not for me” mentality.
The controversy surrounding Cuomo’s traffic violations also highlights his recent return to the city after launching his mayoral campaign. Some critics have questioned whether the former governor, who previously spent most of his time in Albany, has enough recent experience with the daily challenges facing New York City residents. The multiple violations accumulated in such a short period suggest that Cuomo may be out of touch with the realities of navigating the city’s traffic systems as an ordinary citizen rather than as a privileged official.
