Illegal parking has taken its toll in Brooklyn and has outraged residents speaking out against unlawful parking permit abuse, according to a recently released study.

Transportation Alternatives, a non-profit advocacy organization conducted the study and found that three out of every four city parking permit holders use their passes illegally.

In Downtown Brooklyn, it was found that 587 permits - 69 percent of total permits were used illegally while only 262 - 31 percent of permits - were used legally.

"It's hard to believe that we have to do a study this extensive to draw attention to the issue, but it's really very simple. The NYPD needs to enforce the law when it comes to illegal permit use," said Matthew Roth of Transportation Alternatives.

According to the survey, when drivers with permits cannot find a legal spot, they often park in illegal spaces at the curbside and in metered spaces, hurting businesses that rely on parking turnover and sharply cutting into city revenues that would be generated by meters.

"When I have to spend 20 minutes telling the supervisor where the No Permit Zone is, and I have to insist that the law be enforced, before the traffic agent writes the ticket, then the situation is ridiculous," said Judy Stanton, executive director of the Brooklyn Heights Association.

In 2003, City Councilmember David Yassky funded a study for the Atlantic Avenue Betterment Association (AABA) which found that permit abusers along Atlantic Avenue in Downtown Brooklyn were taking needed meters.

The abuse was continuous and perpetrated consistently by the same permit holders, according to the Yassky study.

Barbara Clurman who is the Co-Owner of Silk Road Antiques - 313 Atlantic Avenue - voiced her concerns.

"Customers can't find parking spaces and the permit parkers tie up the spaces all day. It's all about free commuter parking. They don't really patronize the shops. Because of the type of street that Atlantic Avenue is, we have much more car traffic than foot traffic. But if there's no place to park, you won't come in."

Transportation Alternatives estimates that over 150,000 drivers have access to free parking in the form of valid government-issued parking permits, including the more than 30,000 NYPD "Self-Enforcement Zone" permits and 75,000 teacher permits.

"We have vehicles parked all over the place, in front of hydrants, at bad places at intersections, and in No Standing zones," said Bill Harris, owner of Renaissance Properties, located at 71 Hoyt Street.

Transportation Alternatives states that although Mayor Bloomberg has vowed to reduce the number of permits on the street, the problem still persists.

They are stressing the need for the Mayor, along with the NYPD to enforce the law; take inventory of permits and reduce the total, educate government workers to eliminate the "Culture of Entitlement," and update parking signage to reflect the needs of surrounding communities.