Man Defends Parked Car With Pizza

A Brooklyn man was arrested for menacing, disorderly conduct and harassment last Friday. His chosen weapon? Pizza. A traffic agent found Jason Rosa near Bay Ridge Parkway leaning against his 2010 Mitsubishi Galant, which was illegally parked in front of a fire hydrant. Rosa was enjoying a bit of a nosh, and refused to move his car when the agent asked, saying he would move when he was finished with his meal. The agent didn't take too kindly to that backtalk, and began writing Rosa a ticket. That's when things got messy.

Rosa decided that his hunger was not as important as justice, and threw the rest of his pizza slice at the ticket agent. It only hit him in the pant leg, but definitely got the point across. The agent called the police and Rosa was arrested. If this happened in upstate New York, he probably would have just been let off with a warning.

According to NYC's violation codes website, it is illegal to stop, stand or park "closer than 15 feet of a fire hydrant. Between sunrise and sunset, a passenger vehicle may stand alongside a fire hydrant as long as a driver remains behind the wheel and is ready to move the vehicle if required to do so." The general fine is $115, including a a $15 New York State Criminal Justice surcharge.

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By Jaya Saxena in News on May 19, 2010 11:31 AM

Comments [rss]

sexisicilian

Maybe he thought the agent was hungry:)

just saying

According to the Post, Jason Rosa was munching on a slice while sitting on the hood of his car parked directly in front of a fire hydrant. THE TICKET AGENT ASKED ROSA TO MOVE HIS CAR. Rosa said he'd move it only when he was finished eating. (So what did dumb@ss Rosa think was going to happen next? The agent would just go away?) Thus the ticket and Rosa's subsequent snit fit and arrest.

Ticket agents usually get a bad rap (sometimes deservedly), but Rosa is no kid. He's 33 years old so he should know better. I'll bet he still lives at home.

Crapola

NYS drivers manual states you're allowed to park in front of a hydrant as long as the driver is present. How is this illegal ?

kevd

link?

It just seems unlikely to me, I'd love to see some documentation proving that is true.

If the city really didn't want people parking at hydrants they would build out the sidewalks around hydrants, but that would make it impossible to park there, and impossible to issue tickets for parking there.

Most other cities (and common sense) require only a few feet clear on each side of a hydrant, what is it here? 15 feet ? Way more than necessary.

ktinnyc

http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/dmanual/chapter07-manual.htm

"Parking, standing or stopping is not allowed:

Within 15 feet (5 m) of a fire hydrant, unless a licensed driver remains in the vehicle to move it in an emergency."

kevd

He wasn't "in the vehicle" he was "leaning against" it.

kevd

Thanks man (exclamation point)

kevd

Thanks man!

Politburo

If I recall correctly, you are legally obligated to obey the orders of a peace officer, even if the order has no legal basis.

And of course getting a bogus ticket is not an excuse for his behavior.

jibbly

I think I had that TMNT drawing on my pencil case!

Throwing away perfectly good pizza at a traffic agent is definitely an arrestable offense.