What is a PBA card?

PBA cards are the ultimate, real-life ‘get out of jail free’ cards, but not everyone can get one.

From minor speeding tickets to random stops and searches, they’ve been known to get people out of a jam, but what are they, and how do you get one?

AP:Associated PressPBA cards are issued by police to help get the cardholder out of minor law infractions such as traffic stops and random searches[/caption]

What is a PBA card?

PBA stands for Police Benevolent Association, which is the frequently given name to police labor unions across the United States.

There are nearly 1 million police officers registered in some kind of labor union, with 80 percent registered in independent organizations.

The NYPD union is the largest in the world, with more than 24,000 registered police officers.

Several unions have a history of handing out PBA cards to close friends and family, to help them out when they get in a spot of bother with the law.

 In 2012, the director of the Police Institute at Rutgers University stated that the practice was at least 40 years old and probably much older.

Police departments have repeatedly denied that they support favoritism for cardholders, the cards have come to be called “get out of jail free cards”.

People have reported that the PBA card has helped them receive a warning instead of a speeding ticket, with officers saying they are designed to help certain people avoid minor citations.

Police unions, who are very tight-lipped about them, have said they serve as “a public relations tool” and are in no way offering actual immunity.

Who has a PBA card?

PBA cards are most commonly given out to family members of police officers, but they have been known to be issued to friends and coworkers related to police officers.

The laminated card comes with information about the officer, including their name, phone number, and signature, so that other policemen can confirm the cardholder’s relationship with the officer.

The cards reportedly work best when the cardholder has the same surname as the officer who issued the card.

Sometimes the cards are issued to community leaders such as politicians and religious leaders, as well as journalists.

Some media organizations view them as a conflict of interest and advise their employees to forgo them.

What powers does the PBA card give police?

The cards don’t entitle the owner to any special rights, but those who use them say they can help avoid traffic tickets, such as red lights and speeding violations.

Police officers will sometimes give warnings instead, but will still make arrests for more serious violations, such as drink driving and dangerous speeding.

Former NYPD detective Angel Maysonet told BBC News that cardholders do not get any special favors but they can help defuse a tense situation.

The police have said the cards were more widely recognized by police years ago, but lost credibility as more and more got into the public’s hands.

Others have warned they may not be able to get you out of minor infractions if you are rude, and it’s at the police officers’ discretion whether they choose to honor the card.