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AGENCY TESTIMONY
Recent trends and statistics on subway surfing
0:29:15
·
57 sec
Chief Gulotta discusses the recent resurgence in subway surfing incidents and provides key statistics on the phenomenon.
- Notes an increase in police contacts with subway surfers in recent years
- Mentions a rise in 911 calls from concerned citizens
- Highlights that the average age of subway surfers encountered is 14 years old, with some as young as 9
- Emphasizes the role of social media in driving this dangerous behavior
Joseph Gulotta
0:29:15
The dangerous and unlawful act of riding on the exterior train cars known as subway surfing is not a new phenomenon.
0:29:22
Yet we have seen resurgence in police contacts with surfers in recent years.
0:29:27
That could contribute to two factors, the NYPD taking a more proactive approach towards curbing the activity and greater awareness by the public leading to increased reporting.
0:29:37
Not only has the number of police contacts with the division of subway surfing gone steadily up, the number of 9 one one calls from concerned New Yorkers have grown exponentially.
0:29:45
To be clear, when we speak about individuals who are subway surfing, we are primarily speaking about juveniles.
0:29:52
The average age of the subway surfers we encounter is 14 years old, with some surfers as young as 9.
0:29:58
What we see is that social media is the major driver of this behavior.
0:30:02
The constant one up upmanship we see from surfers trying to capture and share edgier content on social media platforms is a phenomenon that we did not see in decades past.