In New York, the police department has proposed a new series of regulations that would criminalize many protests in the city. The NYPD wants the city to require that police permits be required for any gathering of 35 or more people on the city’s streets. Currently groups can hold relatively small protests, such as picket lines or vigils, without a permit as long as there is no sound system. In addition the NYPD wants to make it illegal for bikers to ride in groups of more than 20 people without a police permit. Also the police wants the power to arrest any group of two or more pedestrians or cyclists who violate any traffic law, rule or regulation. Under the proposed rules, the police could arrest a couple for parading without a permit if they jaywalked. A public hearing has been scheduled for August 23.