From Atlantic Yards Watch: 311, not direct complaints, can generate police response to illegal parking
Based on anecdotal reports submitted to Atlantic Yards Watch, it looks like calls to 311 regarding arena-area conditions like illegal parking can prompt police action, but direct complaints to the cops are a stretch.
For example, the 12/30/12 Coldplay concert prompted several complaints about illegal parking and idling, leading to a report citing "Immediate police action!
I was amazed to get emails saying all my reports were closed and that action had been taken, which led me to run around the block and see proof -- which I did, in the form of either empty spots or cars with tickets (in most cases). THis all happened within a 20 minute period. 311 works!
The same poster, however, observed similar conditions regarding the Coldplay/Jay-Z concert last night and recounted:
A quick run by the block between New Year's Eve procedures found two uninterested patrolmen and a slew of illegal parkers:
446C Dean: two cars parked or idling in the No Standing zone
41 5th Avenue bus stop and hydrant at 39: white van parked at hydrant, 3 limos in bus stop. One is a white stretch Lincoln, NY lic T625342C
53 5th Avenue: black Mazda parked at hydrant
68-70 5th Avenue (at St. Mark's): two sedans parked in No Parking Zone
Alerted two patrolmen who shrugged and asked why that should bother me.
Happy New Year!
Note: This was not a patrol -- only a quick walk home. Not reported to 311 as unable to do so in a timely manner.
If NYC's Finest aren't going to enforce the 'No Parking', 'No Standing' signage, then the city needs to take down the signs and sell them for scrap metal...
ReplyDelete(I live in Salida, CO, but we have the same parking problems here, too...I like your idea of e-mailing the appropriate City agency with reports of violators. It's still a fire hydrant, and it's still a car blocking the hydrant, wherever we live...)
Most people don't fully inderstand the parking rules in NYC. A sign indicating "no parking" means that a vehicle can be stopped there as long as the driver is with the vehicle and it is readily moveable. A " no standing" sign indicates that a vehicle can never be stopped there. Also keep in mind that a police officer is not required by any law or dept procedure to summons every vehicle that it finds in violation.
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