NYC Traffic Enforcement Agents are making progress in their effort to seek peace officer status amid continued on-duty assaults, their union said on Thursday.
Representatives of CWA Local 1182, the union representing the city’s 2,300 traffic agents, gained support from City Council Deputy Speaker Nantasha Williams (D-Queens) in its push for peace officer status. Williams was expected to introduce into the Council a resolution on May 14 calling on state lawmakers to pass bills S.5763/A.6588, which would grant the agents this legal designation to improve protections.
By granting them peace officer status instead of classifying them as civilian workers, the agents would receive greater legal protections, with anyone who assaults them facing tougher criminal penalties. If the bills are approved, assaults against agents on the job could be prosecuted under laws that apply to attacks on peace or police officers.
Traffic Enforcement Agents are responsible for duties including traffic control, school zone enforcement, congestion management, and maintaining access for emergency vehicles across the city. They also help manage traffic conditions near emergencies and public events.
Government officials and union reps said assaults against on-duty agents remain a constant concern. In fact, it is a daily occurrence, Alexander Sadik, president of the union, said.
Traffic agents get punched, spat at, and harassed
“I get punched, I get spit at. I had an agent the other day, she didn’t do anything,” Sadik said. “The driver came out and punched her. She’s about 5 feet tall, 90 pounds. He punched her so hard in her face that she can’t talk.”
Sadik added that many agent assaults go unreported; many also pay for their own medical bills when they are attacked on the job.
A legion of NYPD traffic agents assembled outside of the 28th Precinct on Monday afternoon to watch the man who allegedly attacked their colleague with a fire extinguisher in Harlem in 2024 be whisked away in cuffs by detectives.Photo by Dean Moses
Williams echoed similar points, noting that the agents often work under difficult conditions.
“No worker should face violence for carrying out their responsibilities, and the repeated assaults against these agents raise serious concerns about workplace safety and accountability,” she said.
amNewYork contacted the NYPD to ask if the department supports the bills and whether they have seen an increase in reported assaults and is awaiting a response.
Protections for performing public-facing work
Sadik said agents are not asking to be armed. He only wants more justice for attacks on agents.
“I’m not asking for a dollar. I’m not asking for a weapon or handcuffs. I’m not asking to chase anyone because I’m not a cop,” Sadik explained. “I just want to make sure people think twice about the consequences of attacking an agent. That’s all I want. I want to feel comfortable.”
Language in the state bills underscores Sadik’s points, making clear the law would not automatically allow agents to carry or use firearms.
“…criminal procedure law is amended by adding a new subdivision…all agents employed by the City of New York Police Department in the titles of Traffic Enforcement Agent I and II provided, however, that nothing in this subdivision shall be deemed to authorize any such agent to carry, possess, repair or dispose of a firearm unles the appropriate license therefor has been issued pursuant to section 400.00 of the penal law,” the language reads.
Williams reiterated that her resolution is to strengthen legal protections and deterrence measures for agents performing public-facing work, not to expand enforcement powers or arm officers.
As these incidents continue, we have a responsibility to examine whether current protections are sufficient and ensure that the people tasked with keeping our streets safe and operational are themselves adequately protected while on duty.”