Last Updated on July 24, 2021 by Lawrence Berezin
Disobeying parking rules is a PERK, right?
Wrong. 7 On Your Side investigated an NYC building inspector who regularly disobeyed parking rules by parking next to a fire hydrant. Neighborhood residents complained to 7 On Your Side about the bad behavior.
“He parks there every day,” neighbor Gilbert Rodriguez said. “He doesn’t get a ticket, but he parks there every day.”
Neighbors complained they would be ticketed for the same behavior, but this inspector was not.
“I live on the block, and if I can’t do it, he shouldn’t do it either,” David Hinds said.
7 On Your Side’s investigation confirmed the recurring fire hydrant parking violations. Here’s what happened when it was reported to the City Agency.
Why didn’t this building inspector get a parking ticket?
The answer is obvious. Warriors and Cops were either exercising their discretion not to issue a parking ticket or were ordered not to issue parking tickets to City vehicles.
Do you think Warriors or Cops should have the discretion to enforce or not to enforce parking rules?Click To TweetPlease answer the quickie one-question poll below…Thanks!
At first blush, you may think parking rules should always be enforced (Sorry, “never be enforced” is not an option). Equal justice for all kind-0f-thing. But, on driving deeper into the issue, what about all the Warriors and Cops that don’t issue parking tickets to those lucky drivers who illegally double park on the unrestricted side of the roadway during street cleaning?
If you voted, “no discretion,” how do you reconcile the obvious contradiction if you don’t think Warriors or Cops should enforce street cleaning rules for double parking on the unrestricted side of the roadway during street cleaning?
Commentary
I think Warrior and Cop discretion is a good thing in Parking Ticket Land. For example:
- The street cleaning custom of double parking when a driver is sitting behind the wheel should not get a parking ticket
- When a driver stops for a moment alongside a car parked at the curb to back into a vacant parking space (a.k.a. parallel parking) should not get a double parking ticket
- Double parking when a driver stops temporarily to expeditiously drop off or pick up their Aunt Tillie, who was waiting by the curb should not get a parking ticket
- A fire hydrant violation when a car is really parked 15.1 feet from the fire hydrant should not get a parking ticket
- And many more
But, it is an abuse of discretion to fail to issue a ticket for:
- Double parking when your buddy runs into Starbucks for a cup of java
- A City vehicle is parked in front of a fire hydrant
When is Warrior or Cop discretion a good thing in Parking Ticket Land? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject?
Check out the full article here
[Larry’s comment: I colored in the outline of the cop in the featured image using a super terrific website, “NetArt.” It is a wonderful resource for you and your children especially on a rainy day].
On Staten Island we don’t have ASP but there are many ‘No Standing’ signs installed at corners to ‘daylight’ the intersection for visibility and safety reasons. On too many occasions one of those NYCDOT speed camera cars parks in a No Standing zone on Clawson Street to catch drivers going over 25mph. No use asking the surly guy in the vehicle to move it. I complain to my local councilmemeber and he contacts the NYCDOT and then Mr. Surly Guy moves his vehicle. This has happened more than once. But I’ve nevr seen a city vehicle parked at a fire hydrant on S.I., at least not in my neighborhood.
Hey Dan,
Thanks so much for your informative comment.
It really rankles me to hear these tales of faux empowerment.
Here’s a video from a great friend, Jimmy Justice catching
a Warrior behaving badly.
https://youtu.be/052S1yg-zR0
Regards,
Larry
City employees flouting parking rules is awful but not surprising. What i don’t get is how scofflaw privileges are extended to others. On my block in Bed-Stuy, the local postal employees routinely park their cars on the sidewalk behind the Post Office during their shifts. It’s a very wide sidewalk, so there’s (usually) plenty of room for people to pass, but it’s annoying. I never complain because I’m afraid they’ll start taking up precious spots in the neighborhood, but how the DOT allows this is a mystery. Why do letter carriers get a pass? Much worse are the MTA employees’ personal cars parked along Bushwick Ave outside the East New York yard. They’re parked on both the sidewalk and the street, which is often a no-standing zone, and they frequently obstruct traffic. It’s a farce.
Hi, Patrick,
Well said!
Thanks for sharing your opinion with us.
Regards,
Larry