What does it take to get the NYPD to obey court orders? So far, it's taken a $100,000 settlement and the threat of a contempt finding.

In 1992, a federal judge found a law prohibiting loitering “for the purpose of begging” unconstitutional and enjoined its enforcement in New York City. The decision was upheld on appeal, but that hasn't stopped officers from illegally arresting hundreds of people for violating the law. Some have been arrested repeatedly, and some prosecutors have tried to bring charges under the unconstitutional law.

Police essentially ignored a second order to stop enforcing the law issued in June 2005.

It was only after the plaintiffs — half a dozen people who were unlawfully arrested or charged for panhandling or loitering — asked in December [2006] that the department be held in contempt that the Police Department “turned their behavior around,” Judge Scheindlin wrote.

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