7th Avenue Meter Maids on a Rampage

Another of Bloomberg's stick it to the taxpayer policies.. Less police, more meter maids.

November 28, 2008
NYC Parking Tickets Booming Under Bloomberg

Drivers, it's the last Friday in November—do you know where your car is? The day after Thanksgiving was the most-ticketed day of the last fiscal year, according to an extensive analysis of parking tickets conducted by the Times. The study concluded that parking tickets issued citywide have surged 42 percent since Mayor Bloomberg took office. During the last fiscal year, the city raked in $624 million in parking fines, which is more than the city spends to run the entire Department of Transportation. Officials, maintaining a straight face, insist the parking enforcement is not driven by revenue goals.

According to the study, which comes with a sweet interactive online map, the most-ticketed block in NYC is 14th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. 10 percent of the tickets for alternate-side parking violations were issued within two minutes of the time that the rule went into effect. And 28,000 of those—2 percent of the total—were issued exactly on the hour. Gus Markatos, manager at the Donut Pub on West 14th Street, tells the Times, "I walked out at 11 o’clock on the dot one night, and my car was already being ticketed and towed. There’s no courtesy anymore."

The NYPD insists the handheld computers issued to traffic cops are synced with the atomic time clock, but a Fox News report found that some of the devices run more than two minutes fast. Last May, 64-year-old Leo Magnotta died from a heart attack while arguing with traffic cops in the Bronx, sparking protests from business owners about overzealous ticketing. And southwest Brooklyn Councilman Vincent Gentile complains that, "We have traffic agents who get bused in by van each and every day to these communities. They’re deployed like an army regiment."

But it's tough out there for the enforcers, too; former union rep Robert Cassar tells the Times, "Every day, you go out there naked—without a gun—in the back of your mind is, ‘Is this my day?'"

http://gothamist.com/2008/11/28/nyc_parking_tickets_booming_under

Meter maids should put tickets on dogs that are tied up to meters in front of stores. Meter maids could save dogs from being dog-napped and people from tripping over leashes and getting bitten by frightened dogs.

I agree with you to the extent that all these things are clear that there is an effort being made to catch individuals committing stupid violations that bring money into the city. However it seems to be that the simple answer is to just ensure you are not committing any violations.

Full disclosure: I don't have a car. However, if I got a ticket for Jay-walking (which I have in Seattle), I would be pissed. But, in response, I wouldn't Jay Walk... or in actuality, just not do so in front of cops. And if I did, I would think it would know it is a risk that I am taking. Just like taking the dog off-leach (which I do and have received a ticket for).

If you are committing a violation you are taking a risk. For a while, at least, individuals just need to beware that the risk is higher at getting caught.

And IF you get caught, for the love of god, don't be mad at anyone but yourself.

OH my word! I got two tickets yesterday. I was only walking across the street, eating my pomegranate and I wasn't really paying attention, when all of a sudden an officer of the law came running up to me and asked me for some personal identification. I asked him what was the problem officer and he told me that I'm a Jaywalker and I was getting a ticket. I was so upset and hurt by that. Then I said, wouldn't it be more fruitful if you go after the skinheads. The officer got a little mad when I said that. Then!!!! as I was walking away, my hanky fell out of my pocket and I didn't realize it and the officer stopped me again and gave me a ticket for littering. As the officer is writing that ticket, I notice 3 skinheads on the corner of 7st and 7ave and they were laughing at me and making faces at me. I tried to show the officer but he ignored me. I need to find a good lawyer to fight these tickets. I think it was very unreasonable to get these tickets. I do alot for this community and shouldn't be treated like dirt!

here's what i love about bloomberg (said facetiously): he doesn't think people in cities should have cars. yet there are enough cars to pay for meter maids to ticket and still make a giant profit.

i don't like him.

that he doesn't think anyone should have cars but it's indeed those cars that bring in giant revenue?

i'm not really understanding.

yet where does the $$ go now?

i don't buy it.

Its sort of like the concept around cigarette taxes. The city raises oodles of money from people who smoke. They claim they do it to reduce smoking. But what if everyone stopped smoking? How would they replace the lost revenue?

In any event, as someone who knows a little about the city's finances I can assure you that the money raised from parking fines goes to the same place the money raised by property taxes or income taxes goes. If they don't raise the money from parking tickets, they have to raise the money somewhere else, or cut spending.

I have received several NYC parking tickets and been towed twice in the past 17 years I have been driving. All but one were legit tickets. Each time I got a ticket or was towed I was pissed. The truth is these laws are in place (hopefully for the right reason). To view it as a revenue machine for the city and nothing else is silly. There is a reason for this law enforcement. The more lax the enforcement the more difficult and unlivable things become. No one should ever complain about moving violation and traffic enforcement as too many people drive like complete psychos without regard for the law, fellow drivers or pedestrians or their own safety.

Retag wrote: Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.

YEA. Just be happy you can store your personal vehicle on public land.

There is something we all can do! Fill the non-guilty box and go to court. They will be so overwhelmed by the shear numbers seeking a court date that it will cost them as well to give out so many tickets.

They depend on people to just be passive and plea gulity and send in a check. OVERWHELM THE COURT WITH PAPER WORK !!!!!

.......I go to court for every single case/ticket.

What the hell do you expect, you live in a city. Yeah you have to lug the groceries several blocks. You really do give up a lot to be close to everything.

I saw them giving tickets to a bunch of cars on 6th Street today. I took note because I don't think I've actually ever seen any of them writing a parking ticket before. But they (2 of them) were going nuts with it.