Fare-beating wrist-slaps curb DA work

ARRAIGNMENTS for theft of services have plunged by 88% in Manhattan since the district attorney’s office stopped prosecuting most fare-beating arrests, DA Cy Vance Jr. said Monday.

There were 73 people arraigned for the crime in February, down from 618 in February 2017.

Vance announced last month he wouldn’t prosecute people busted for turnstile jumping unless there’s a specific public safety reason to move forward.

“My office has made criminal justice reform and reducing unnecessary incarceration among its highest priorities,” Vance told the City Council at a budget oversight hearing.

“The NYPD can and should continue to enforce these offenses through its routine enforcement, and we are monitoring this closely to ensure that anyone who poses a public safety threat will continue to be prosecuted.”

Mayor de Blasio, the NYPD and the MTA all slammed the new policy for going soft on fare-beaters.