The Parking Ticket Emotional Reclamation Project is aiming to dull the glaring pain of that bright orange parking ticket (hey, not everyone knows a cop who can fix tickets!). They explain: "Imagine, you come back to your car to find a parking ticket on your windshield. Immediately, depression and self-blame set in. Yet when you open the envelope to assess the damages—Hark!—an angel has come to help you reclaim your emotions! An original work of art lay in tandem with the ticket!" Here's how it's done: more ›

Rep. Anthony Weiner, who recently showed off his social media skills by chatting with people on Daily Kos, Reddit, Twitter and Facebook, hates bike lanes (kinda). But do you know what else he hates? Paying his parking tickets on time! Roll Call found that the Weiner owed $2,180 in unpaid Washington DC parking tickets from March 2007 through early this month. Luckily for DC coffers, Weiner wants to run for NYC mayor in 2013 so he paid them after he was contacted by Roll Call! more ›

More proof of police quotas? A reader sent us this video of a traffic agent on 94th Street and 5th Avenue in Brooklyn, allegedly giving out tickets at 12:52 p.m. yesterday. The only problem is that alternate sides parking ends eight minutes later. It would have been helpful if the videographer thought to put a clock in the shot or something. more ›

Last year, New Yorkers contested 3.2 million parking tickets, about 15% more than in 2009. But when one of those wrong tickets belongs to Jackson Heights Assemblyman Michael DenDekker's mother, it's time to take action. Yesterday, DenDekker introduced a revision to a bill he introduced last year that would require all municipalities in the state to pay a $100 fine to motorists who were wrongly ticketed, like his mother was when she got a ticket for violating alternate side parking rules on a Thursday when the rule was only in effect on Wednesdays. more ›

The city's Department of Finance is beginning to enlist collection agencies to get their hands on $680 million in fines motorists have failed to pay since 2002, and some city drivers are calling the move too aggressive. "Collection agencies? That seems a bit harsh," driver Sophie Celha told the Daily News. "I think it's a cheap shot. They're getting enough money from the meters and tickets as it is." The nerve of them, asking people to actually pay their tickets. more ›

Not even the sweet release of death can liberate you from New York's relentless parking ticket blitz. Early Tuesday morning a traffic cop came across Nicholas Rappold, 21, of Flushing, who was slumped across the front seat of his Jeep Cherokee on 165th Street near 35th Avenue. Rappold was dead, but just because you've gone to your eternal resting place doesn't mean you can park it wherever you want. Dying drivers should really know this by now. more ›

That's the question Cliff Schuster asked himself before he parked at a Q75 stop in Queens. The Q75 stop was one of 570 now out of service because of MTA service cuts, and was marked with a sign saying it was "no longer a bus stop." But that didn't stop a ticket agent from fining him $115 for parking there. more ›

With the rest of the budget looking bleak, parking meters are apparently one of Mayor Bloomberg's few remaining cash cows. The city is anticipating an increase in the amount of money generated by parking meters, bringing earnings to $157 million—up 50 percent from two years ago. That cash, combined with money from towing fees and city-owned parking lots, constitutes a $1 billion revenue stream that shows no signs of drying up, the Advance reports. more ›

Just five more minutes, Dad! protested NYC drivers sick of expensive fines during street cleaning, and starting today they’ll have time to hit snooze. A new law gives vehicle owners a 300-second grace period during alternate side parking hours or at expired city Muni Meters. Bloomberg warned that the legislation would result in “chaos” as drivers quarreled with meter maids, gesturing at the faces of their watches. But City Council Speaker Christine Quinn fought the mayor and won: "Other cities have this [grace period] and it has not proven to be chaotic," Quinn said, according to the News. "It's a nice and appropriate amount of latitude to give New Yorkers in a place where we all know it's not easy to park." more ›

Foreign diplomats who park as they please around the United Nations owe the city big bucks, and Rep. Anthony Weiner is not about to let it ride. He's got a plan to make diplomats pay for their $18 milllion worth of infractions by hitting their countries where it hurts. (And no, he's not talking about stealing their models.) more ›

Mayor Bloomberg says that if the City Council's planned five-minute grace period for parking violations goes into effect, there will be "chaos" on the streets. Based on this Daily News article, that already seems to be the case — and the law isn't even on the books yet. more ›

Earlier this week, the City Council passed a bill to add a five-minute grace period for drivers in certain no parking zones, such as alternate side parking regulations and expired Muni-Meters. Amid debate about the bill's worthiness, Mayor Bloomberg vowed to veto the legislation, saying "The five-minute grace period is only going to lead to chaos and enormous increases in the number of contested tickets, and in argument. Whose watch are you going to use?" Well, based on one Daily News reporter's experience, maybe it doesn't matter at all! more ›

If you awoke this morning with a parking ticket on your windshield, look closely, because the reviled orange and white leaflet might actually be a piece of last-minute campaign literature. In what he calls "guerilla campaigning," Republican City Council candidate Joe Nardiello has been placing fake parking tickets that double as campaign literature on cars in Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Park Slope, Kensington, Windsor Terrace and Borough Park. more ›

Since the city's tax revenue has plummeted, with the stock market and the fortunes of Wall Street, the Staten Island Advance notices, "The city plans to collect a record $900 million in fines during the upcoming fiscal year, which begins next week, according to budget estimates," thanks to fines like "A $25 fine from Sanitation for failing to comply with the city's recycling regulations. A $250 summons from Parks for not stopping to 'scoop the poop' from your pet. A $200 fine from Consumer Affairs for leaving your shop store open while the air conditioning is running, and a $250 ticket from a traffic agent for leaving your engine running while you run into that store." Restaurant violations are up from $27 million last year to $38 million this coming budget year, but the big money maker is parking fines, which may rack up $600 million this year. Sari Kingsley, a recent victim of the ticket blitz, said she got her ticket minutes after parking outside her office, with the traffic agent claiming it had been there for over two hours; Kingsley said, "It's beyond just enforcement. It's harassment." more ›

Remember back when (almost) everyone was in the holiday spirit and poor 'ol Saint Nick got a ticket for double parking? And then he fought that ticket because everyone knows there really is no Santa Claus? Well, he lost the fight. Santa, real-life retired school teacher Chip Cafiero, says he got word of the crushing defeat on Friday. Last November the 60-year-old had double parked to hand out gifts from a horse-drawn carriage (uh oh) at a Marty Markowitz-sponsored event. He says the city can take his $115, but they'll never take his Christmas spirit (and they're totally going on the Naughty List). more ›

A lawsuit filed in Brooklyn Federal Court accuses NYPD officers of disregarding a man's weakened condition and medication needs after they arrested him for driving with a license that had been suspended for unpaid parking tickets. 50-year-old Glenn Seldon of Queens was battling colon cancer when police arrested him in May 2007; his wife says that when she tracked him down to the 108th Precinct station house, she found him handcuffed to a chair and sitting in his own waste. From there Seldon was taken to Central Booking, and when he was finally released from jail four days later, he was "gaunt from dehydration, incontinent, and weeping uncontrollably." Not only that, his infection had worsened and his blood platelet level was dangerously low. Seldon died days later of a cardiac arrest, but his wife tells the Daily News she "believes the stress and the trauma accelerated his death." more ›

The double-parking Santa who got a big 'ol ticket as an early Christmas present is speaking out! The Daily News reports that "he appreciates the outpouring of support, but he won't accept any charity to pay the $115 fine." He doesn't, however, want to pay it himself either. Commonly known as Chip Cafiero, he says he is "very appreciative to hear that so many people want to help him out, but as a matter of principle, we have to fight this ticket." Allegedly he'd like to prove a point about parking in the area; "These meter maids are harassing our small businesses in Bay Ridge, and it is time that we make a stand and fight for what's right. All those people who wanted to help Santa may be getting something a little extra special under the tree this year." Cafiero was dressed as Claus to hand out gifts to children when he was ticketed—so many, including Marty Markowitz, have rallied to support him. more ›

Santa may be able to fly fast through the sky, but when it comes to parking he's got to follow the law like the rest of us civilians. The Daily News reports that one Santa (The Santa?) double-parked his sleigh SUV on Third Avenue in Bay Ridge, and "neighbors and politicians demanded the summons be quashed." But James Huntley, "who heads Local 1182, defended the agent who slapped a ticket on Chip Cafiero's SUV." He also added that seeing the driver in a Santa suit wouldn't have changed the law, and notes that calling the agent a Grinch or Scrooge isn't going to make matters better (is that a threat?). Marty Markowitz, whose office sponsored the event that Santa was at, said "It's the holidays. In these situations, there should be a combination of common sense and holiday spirit instead of humbug." Free double-parking at Brooklyn Borough Hall for everyone in a Santa hat! more ›

All hail the Scofflaw King! NYC's Department of Finance has released their top ten list of individuals with the most unpaid parking tickets, and coming in at number #1 is scofflaw royalty Alexander Khamish (not pictured), who doesn't even reside within the city limits! The Merrick, Long Island native was confronted about his 415 unpaid tickets by the Post yesterday, and he swears it's all just a big misunderstanding: "Basically, someone registered [the offending] vehicles under my name. I knew about this a couple years ago, but I didn't know it [involved an] $80,000 [debt]." A spokesperson for the DMV says they've received no paperwork regarding his allegedly stolen identity. And though Kamish's license is suspended, the Post photographs him getting behind the wheel to go drive to work (and presumably park in a sweet "No Standing" zone in front of the office). more ›

A House Transportation Committee report stated, "Essentially, all of Lower Manhattan is a free parking lot for government vehicles," confirming what we all know: Government vehicles park illegally! But here's the icing: The biggest parking ticket scofflaws are the government. The NYPD ran up $193,000 in unpaid tickets, the FBI had $34,908, and State Department had $28,33 in unpaid violations. An FBI spokeswoman said, "Parking in New York City is a huge challenge. Parking facilities do not exist for the majority of F.B.I. vehicles assigned to the New York division.” Still, the report blames "lax fleet management practices" for allowing government employes to take advantage of the system and create unsafe conditions for others. For more on bad parking practices stemming from government-issued permits, check out Uncivil Servants. more ›

Governor Paterson signed legislation making any assault on traffic enforcement agents a possible felony. The Sun reports that previously, an assault on traffic agent was a misdemeanor (up to one year in jail and $1,000 in fines), but now the felony charge could bring 7-8 years in jail. One traffic agent told NY1, "I came out my vehicle to issue a summons, I started and the motorist came out his car and punched me on my head." Police Commissioner Ray Kelly added, "The message here is clear: If you touch a traffic enforcement agent, you go to jail." more ›

WCBS features one of those completely infuriating stories today that probably led to the origination of the phrase "You can't fight City Hall." It involves NYPD city parking agents willing to issue tickets to vehicles, whether they're legally parked or not. The news report actually videotapes a man receiving a parking ticket from a cop as he is legally parked. When he protests and points to the obvious sign that indicates that he is legally parked, the cop apologizes but says that the ticket is already written and will be dismissed in court. more ›

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a shooting on Clarkson Ave. in Brooklyn, another shooting on Madison Ave. in Manhattan, and a pedestrian fatally struck on Cross Bay Blvd. in Queens.
• 1010 WINS conducted an online poll asking "If a hurricane were to hit NYC, do you think the city would be ready?" 84% of respondents answered "Oh heck no -- look what happened Wednesday."
• Chicago police arrested the four men who allegedly bound and robbed Knicks guard center Eddy Curry in suburban Illinois.
• Because city express bus drivers don't have the authority to add stops on their own and the MTA didn't instruct them to, hundreds of express buses with empty seats bypassed soggy commuters at local stops during Wednesday's storm.
• The two largest individual parking ticket scofflaws in NYC, who combined owe more than $90K, have completely reasonable explanations: it was their ex-wives who did all the illegal parking.
• After decades of being isolated as a traffic island monument, the Columbus Memorial in the middle of Columbus Circle is now experiencing the human wear and tear that the rest of the city endures. $5 million is being budgeted to repair the accumulated and recent damage the monument has suffered.
• An aircraft was reported down northwest of the city near an Orange County airport.
• An opinion piece in the New York Times notes that while recent outrages over violence against animals garnered media attention and resulted in quick arrests, the brutal deaths of illegal immigrants quickly faded into the media-woodwork.

What with Paris Hilton's release earlier this week and the upcoming celebration of American Independence (sorry, Londonist!), we've been thinking a lot about freedom. Freedom to vote, freedom to choose, and most importantly, freedom to blog. Here are a few things we're happy we've been free to blog about this week. more ›

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a bank robbery on East 79th St. in Manhattan, another bank robbery on East 89th St. in Manhattan, and a police scooter accident at Adams and Tillary Sts. in Brooklyn.
• A parking ticket fixer was sentenced to three-to-six years in jail for arranging false-documented excuses to get people out of parking tickets.
• Robert Deniro and Al Pacino are teaming up as detectives tracking a serial killer in a new film. 50 Cent will join them as a helpful drug dealer informant character.
• Rupert Murdoch-owned News Corp. isn't about to cooperate with The New York Times or its China-based correspondent.
• No NYC tryouts for the latest incarnation of American Idol.
• Curbed notes an Upper West Side townhouse that can be yours for just a K-note under a half billion dollars, courtesy of a typo.
• An SUV struck two pedestrians in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, before crashing into a storefront. The female pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene.
• The "limited time only" lobster roll at Cosi gets a Midtown Lunch review: "There’s no way it’s healthy, and if you are not a fan of mayo you will probably hate this sandwich."

No one likes getting a parking ticket, but it's those instances when tickets are handed down unfairly that really make people crazy and determined to beat them. Sanford Young, a lawyer, spent two years and an estimated $10,000 to beat a $65 ticket in Manhattan Supreme Court. From The Post:

Young got the ticket on Nov. 29, 2005, after he parked on First Avenue near East 70th Street to have dinner with a friend. He returned from his $60 dinner to find a $65 ticket. more ›

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: A pedestrian struck at 12th Street and 8th Avenue in Manhattan, a homicide in Brooklyn, and a water rescue in Forest Park in Queens
• Mathieu Eugene showed NY1 his new apartment and says that he was sleeping there before the election; if that's really true, why didn't he say so earlier and why won't he show NY1 the lease?
• In order to avoid any parking ticket squabbles, the city has suspended Monday alternate side of the street parking in anticipation of snow

Mayor Bloomberg headed to Albany to criticize Governor Spitzer's new budget, accusing him of going beyond nickel and diming the city. Spitzer has proposed cutting over $300 million in municipal aid to the city, and while it doesn't sound like a lot in a time of multi-billion dollar surplus, here's an explanation of the municipal aid program from the NY Times:

Mr. Bloomberg saved his strongest criticism for Mr. Spitzer’s plan to eliminate the city’s share of a state program called Aid and Incentives to Municipalities, which provides the city with $327.9 million in unrestricted aid each year...The city has received the aid since 1946 and sees it as particularly valuable because it is steady from year to year — unlike property tax receipts, the city’s main source of revenue. more ›

For the "Too Good to Be True, So It's Just Not True" file: The NY Times reports that 23 year old Daniel Markovitz "told people that he could get their parking fines reduced, saying that he knew someone in the Parking Violations Bureau or that he worked for a Web site that helped adjudicate tickets." Markovitz collected up to $780 from each person and did pay off fines for 53 parking tickets (which totaled $4,700). Except he used stolen credit cards to do so and making a profit of $2,000. more ›

Last night we headed to one of our favorite local bars, Lolita, for a Sunday night, post-CMJ, drink. The bar rotates artwork every month or so and right now it's all New York themed pieces. The Greek coffee cup, the parking ticket, the Metrocard, the subway sign...you get the idea. For some reason, they are all painted on canvas that is meant to resemble a refrigerator door. Example at right. more ›