Last Updated on June 9, 2016 by Lawrence Berezin
NYPD supervisors are promoting towing abuse in NYC with strong-arm tactics
An article published in the NY Daily News last year about towing abuse in NYC by quota-minded police supervisors blew past me in a cloud of boots. However, with the holiday season approaching and Black Friday just around the corner, it’s a good time to keep an eye peeled for Captain Hook and General Boot.
Four agents and their union hit the city and the NYPD — which oversees the workers — with a lawsuit in November 2013 for issuing blistering punishments if they didn’t haul away three or four vehicles per shift. They claim their bosses would deny them overtime, shifts and meal breaks, and threaten poor evaluations and termination, according to papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court.
‘Now, they don’t have discretion,’ Puleo said of his roughly 300 members charged with towing duties. “My members are being pressured to tow vehicles they normally wouldn’t tow in order to satisfy the agency.”
Approximately 750 cars are towed in NYC every day. Towing operations are projected to bring in $22.6 million each year, according to budget documents.
Response from various stakeholders
“It’s legitimate,” one police source said about the complaints of abuse
Eric Eichenholtz of the city Law Department said its “traffic-enforcement policies are appropriate and lawful.”
But one delivery company manager wasn’t surprised by what he called a “racket.”
“It doesn’t surprise me in the least,” said Steve Goolcharan, 48. “Our trucks are towed every day. It’s going to close my business.”
Here’s a link to the NY Daily News article
Commentary
Low productivity versus towing abuse…Performance metrics versus quotas.
Towing a vehicle for parking violations, with a healthy dose of quota and strong arm revenue-raising-tactics, is a lethal mix. The punishers should be punished.
I never thought I’d be happy to see a boot, and not a vacant space where my car was parked.
Be wary of Captain Hook with the jaws that bit and claws that catch. Beware the jub jub warrior, and frumious towing quota.
T’is the season to be jolly. Park safely.
How can you send a complaint? Can they come, hook up your car and tow your car even though you are present?
I was there and the car wasn’t even hooked up at that moment.
Dear Carlos,
That is awful. Sorry about the bad experience.
No. At worst, they have to unhook your car and charge a release fee.
Was it a police or private tow?
Looking forward to your reply.
Regards,
Larry
Larry,
Recently towed on the night of October 8th. I parked in a legitimate spot. When I came back to my car, it was towed. On the ticket, they put the WRONG address, claiming my car was parked a block over. How do I fight this? I’m incredibly frustrated and obtaining camera footage is not coming easy.
Dear William,
I am sad to report (after dedicating 6 years, 7-days-per-week, with two months off for my heart attack) that I will no longer be answering questions on Larry’s Blog. You’ll find a treasure trove of information in the 746 Blog Posts and growing, F.A.Q.’s, and comments.
If you need help, you may wish to check out of service offerings. Here’s a link.
https://newyorkparkingticket.com/passenger-vehicles
Dear Larry,
Just this morning my boyfriend got his car towed for being parked on a street that he normally parks on during the weekends with no problems ever! However Monday – Friday (without parking signs or any paper notices) he parks on the same side of the street and gets towed and we are talking he’s out by 5:45-6am and the car is gone! WHY!!!!!!!!!!????? More importantly HOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????? it’s nearly $200.00 a pop, and its happened now twice. So, I decided to find out why this is possible? No street signs at all no painted sidewalks no driveways no construction – absolutely nothing! What can I DO?
Cynthia,
Oh man, what a nightmare.
I would plug in the address on the NYC DOT parking regulations Map and see what rule regulates the parking space. Here’s a link…http://www.nycdot.info/
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry