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Police and firefighters park their vehicles at expired meters and in the middle of bike lanes all over town, but in Brooklyn the violations are particularly rampant, prompting outrage on blogs like Brownstoner. Now the Daily News has chimed in, confirming a "slew of trouble spots" where unmarked vehicles belonging to cops, firefighters and other government workers park illegally with impunity. On Jay Street reporters found 18 cars parked at expired meters; most "appeared" to be owned by cops or firefighters. Over on Adams Street, more than 20 cars were parked in a "No Standing Anytime" zone last week, displaying various permits including the NYPD and the court officers union. Also on Adams, a Chevy Blazer with a police department placard was parked in the bike lane. As anyone cyclist knows, cops love bike lane parking, and other motorists routinely block bike lanes with impunity. A spokesman for Mayor Bloomberg reminded the News that the city has slashed the number of placards issued to government workers by 54%. But Michael Burke of the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership says parking laws need to be enforced because "it adds to a sense of lawlessness in the community."
Cops, FDNY Park Wherever They Want in Downtown Brooklyn
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"it adds to a sense of lawlessness in the community."
Not exactly right - it's not like you see a placarded car and say "OMG, this neighborhood is out of control!" You just think "assholes." Normal people have to work hard to schlep around, regardless of how "important" their job is, and these guys can't be bothered to park correctly.
While I'm not a big fan of other city workers parking indiscriminately because they've got some placard or license plate, when it comes to first responders, I'm willing to give it a pass. When you're willing to run into a burning building or deal with some mental deficient wielding a butcher knife, then maybe you can complain about an expired meter.
This American Life profiled this woman in Hoboken who likes to complain about city workers who park illegally. She came across like a sad, little whiny individual with not much else to occupy her time.
"when it comes to first responders, I'm willing to give it a pass."
So would I, if it were while they were "responding." If it's just parking their cars while they're at work, no. There's no reason they can't find the same legal parking spaces every other person who drives to work does, or take public transportation.
And there's some hypocrisy in first responders creating dangerous situations to which someone, they themselves or someone else in a similar line of work, might have to respond to.
Agreed. I've seen too many cop cars block fire hydrants for hours. Someone will have to fry and die before they stop endangering all of us.
Not to mention going home and using the placards to park illegally, which is 100% abuse IMO.
City workers would earn much more respect from everyone if they followed the laws they are supposedly sworn to uphold. It's not that difficult.
they could give a fuck where they park. they turn on the sirens to move someone double parked so they can double park and go get a slice of pizza...
The cops for the precinct that's just below W. 125 in Harlem ALWAYS use the bike lane there on St. Nicholas for the squad cars. I've never ridden up that way and had that bike lane be free of cop cars, actually.
As a resident of this area, it's infuriated me for years that I've had my car towed for having a few inches of bumper into the no parking zone while the court officer car across from me is parked in front of a fire hydrant. They've blocked driveways, hydrants, and emergency pull offs while the lazy cop sitting in the car on the corner can't be bothered to flag down people who run the red lights. I hope they ticket these placard cars as thoroughly as they have been the residents.
Wouldn't it be just terrible if these illegal parkers had their paint jobs keyed?
You should see all the court officials that park their cars IN THE PARK located by Brooklyn Borough Hall. They aren't even in the road... It's ridiculous that they're allowed to do that.