Attack Of The Parking Hustlers!

As if the skunks weren't bad enough, the Bronx is being overrun by slick panhandlers promising to keep your car safe from vandals for a small fee. And while their presence is annoying, court precident protects their right to do this. In 2006 panhandler Eddie Wise was awarded $100,001 after he sued the city, citing the First Amendment right to ask for anything from motorists. While local business owners are concerned, State Senate majority leader Pedro Espada tells the Post "It’s pretty f---ing funny, what these guys do here." Worrying that your car will get vandalized if you don't cough up a dollar? Hilarious.

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By Jaya Saxena in News on September 29, 2009 6:46 PM

Comments [rss]

indy

legal precedent (not court precident)

indy

precedent

Huffy6241

But if an Italian guy does the same thing, and says "Pay me, and nothing will happen to your business" - it's illegal?

SikBug

People have been doing this for years in Bmore and DC. There were a few guys that you'd see every weekend, even when you came out of the club at 6am.

potsmoker

hate the playa not da game,haha

actually parking was his main hustle..

respect da hustle man.

potsmoker

http://nymag.com/news/features/31530/

Eddie Wise was arrested for panhandling,

or so called 'aggressive' panhandling which is legal.

the NYPD harassed him constantly for easy arrests

which is why they settled.

NOT hustling parking spots.

that fordham/webster parking plaza is hustle city since the 70's.

aspiringrapper

Another brilliant comment from our beloved Senator Espada.

sowhtifithppnsitwll

Sooo, I can walk up and down the avenue and aside from the meter fee ask motorists

for a fee to do the nypd's job....

I'm quitting my day job.

joekemp

how is this legal? It should be legal to crack them over the head with a 9 iron!

Splicer

It is legal to do that. Just remember to have a knife handy to put in his hand once you knock him stupid.

Steven

People are soo gullible.

Snoopy

One more reason for moving out of America.

What if I went up to one of these lowlifes and told them if someone gets close to my car including them, I will shoot them dead on the spot? Or ask them for their wallet that you will return after you come back.

Another way to deal with these assholes is to give them half of a dollar bill and if the car is still 100% when you come back they get the other half. Of course neither of the halfs match and it is counterfeit money.