What's the number 1 issue on the minds of Astoria residents? Overzealous traffic cops ticketing their vehicles. City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. has been getting an earful about it, and he says his constituents are being unfairly targeted because the city knows they're a bunch of responsible, law-abiding citizens who actually pay up. "I’ve seen agents trail someone who pulled out of a spot and then cut them off like they were a SWAT team," Vallone tells The Times-Ledger. He also says a funeral procession was ticketed for "slightly" blocking an intersection box, and another time an agent sprawled over the hood of a car after a driver sitting in a no-parking zone tried to pull away. Some might call that dedication, but Astoria's not going to take it any more! more ›

Since 12:01 a.m., the NYPD has been doing this crazy thing whereby they enforce the law, issuing tickets to drivers using portable electronic devices in one of their regular 24-hour sting operations. And one driver we know has already gotten nailed. The scofflaw, who asked to remain anonymous, was shocked to find that he was being ticketed for what the cop perceived as sending a text message. But he wasn't texting, ociffer! more ›