am New York |
February 28, 2007
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By ustin Rocket Silverman
world
With most government parking permit holders in the city allegedly abusing the privilege, an advocacy group will soon let New Yorkers shame the scofflaws by posting photos of their illegally parked cars on a Web site.The site, www.uncivilservants.org, will go live on March 15."This is a public safety issue that has to stop," said Paul Steely White, the executive director of the group, Transportation Alternatives. "It seems everyone has a digital camera or camera phone, and this Web site will make it easy to upload photos. If the mayor is aware of just how pervasive this problem is, he will be compelled to do something."Most city parking placards allow free parking in designated areas while the owner is on "official business." At no time do most placards permit double parking, blocking fire hydrants or parking on sidewalks.But placard owners use them with impunity, secure in the knowledge that they will not be ticketed, recent studies by the group found. Of particular concern are placards issued by unions representing court workers and firefighters, which are not legally recognized in the city but still seem to be honored by traffic enforcement cops."There is zero enforcement of permit abuse," said Matthew Roth, a staffer with Transportation Alternatives. "People get away with using any permit that looks at all official."An NYPD report last year that examined street closures around One Police Plaza found more than 1,000 illegally parked cars displayed city placards.The city's Department of Transportation is conducing an extensive study of curbside usage in downtown Manhattan that is expected to address the parking placard issue."As we've always said, government employees should not abuse their parking privileges or park inappropriately," agency spokeswoman Kay Sarlin said Tuesday.The Web site may eventually be expanded to include photos of idling cars and other quality of life offenders. It was welcome Tuesday by other activists and politicians as a helpful tool in fighting a decades-old problem."Oftentimes sunlight is the best disinfectant," said Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing). "People who are using their permit properly should have no problem with it."
Submitted by admin on December 18, 2007 - 16:59.
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