Let App WinIt fight your ticket.

Do you remember that “get out of jail free” card from the classic Monopoly game? Well, some people say that PBA cards work just as well when it comes to routine traffic stops. Although many people claim that PBA cards have helped get them out of tickets, most police officers and police unions reject those claims. Here’s what you need to know about PBA cards and what they actually mean.

What Are PBA Cards

“PBA” stands for “Police Benevolent Association,” which is an organization dedicated to supporting police officers around the country and has chapters in each state. PBA cards are cards that the PBA issues, typically to friends and family members of police officers.

Chapters of the Police Benevolent Association are known for hosting events and fundraisers to help support law enforcement and first responders, which is part of the reason why there are rumors that having a PBA card can get you out of a ticket.

The logic is that police officers will see that you’re a donor or a family member of somebody else in law enforcement and they’ll choose to take it easy on you. This has neither been proven true nor false. That being said, if you have the chance to get a PBA card, you might as well do so. It couldn’t hurt and there’s the possibility, though unproven, that it might help you avoid tickets.

In addition to the rumors that PBA cards can get you out of trouble, they can also help you out in many different ways. For example, the donations you make through your local PBA branch can be written off your taxes. The PBA also offers expert legal services, contract negotiation services, and a long list of other services for members of their association.

What Is on the PBA Card?

PBA cards are not the same as ID cards and cannot serve in place of state-issued identification like a driver license. However, they do contain some information about the person to whom the card belongs, which can help to ensure that your card cannot be used if stolen. On your card, you will find the following information:

• Your name
• Your phone number
• Your signature

Oftentimes, the card will also list whether you are a law enforcement officer yourself or if you are a family member of a law enforcement officer.

What Powers Does the PBA Card Give Police?

Contrary to popular belief, PBA cards do not give police officers or anybody else special privileges—at least not officially. Some people have said that pulling out a PBA card during a traffic stop has helped them get out of speeding tickets or other minor traffic violations, but there is no official law giving extra legal “powers” to PBA cardholders.

That being said, in most jurisdictions, police officers are authorized to write tickets at their discretion. That means that they can simply decide to let you off with a warning instead (though, some jurisdictions require those warnings to be logged with the local police office, which can result in you getting a more severe penalty next time you’re pulled over for the same violation).

So, being kind to police officers, doing what they ask, and flaunting any PBA card you may have can all help to convince the police officer that you made a simple mistake and let you go.

When Do the Cards Work Best?

PBA cards tend to work the best when you’ve been pulled over for a minor traffic infraction by a police officer who is partial toward PBA cardholders and when you share the same last name as the officer who issued the card.

If you are a direct family member of a police officer, other police officers will typically take it easier on you. That’s especially true if they know the officer to whom you are related. However, once again, this is all subjective and is typically left to the discretion of the officer who pulled you over.

The following violations are examples of minor traffic infractions for which an officer might issue a warning rather than a ticket:

• Illegal passing
• Failure to use a turn signal
• Running a stop sign
• Speeding (by less than 10 miles per hour)
• Making an improper lane change

How to Get a PBA Card?

PBA cards are most commonly issued only to the immediate family members of police officers. However, the PBA will sometimes extend membership privileges to friends and coworkers of police officers. Whether you can get one of these cards boils down to a game of “who do you know?” If you know the right people, such as a police officer, there’s a chance that you can become a member of the PBA.

Generally speaking, you’ll need to be connected to a police officer and be either a member of their immediate family, a coworker, or a close personal friend. Police officers are only allowed to issue a few of these cards, so they’re not likely to give them out to just anybody. Rather, you’ll need to have a close, positive relationship with the officer in order for them to consider granting you a PBA card.

At the end of the day, the rumors that PBA cards are “get out of jail free” cards shouldn’t be believed. While it’s possible that some police officers will take it easy on you during a traffic stop if you show them your PBA card, it’s not a surefire thing.