Sholom Emert, 27, was crossing Kings Highway in Midwood last Friday night and received a court summons for obstructing traffic when he was unable to walk across in time and had to stand on the yellow lines that divided the road.
According to Vos Iz Neias, when the officer asked him to provide proper identification, Emert claims that he was unable to because he was observing the Sabbath and could not carry anything on Shabbos. He then offered to be accompanied to his house a block away by the officer so that he could provide identification. When the officer told Emert to write down his name, address, and date of birth, Emert declined, explaining it would violate his Sabbath. After the officer threatened to have him arrested, Emert complied and was summoned for obstructing traffic.
According to an interview with VIN News, Emert said, “I couldn’t believe that I was standing out there in the cold for at least ten minutes, arguing with a police officer who was going to arrest me for being unable to provide identification or write down my name.” He is claiming unfair treatment by the NYPD.
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