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New space is a scofflaw paradise

The Brooklyn Paper

A Montague Street business group’s attempt to make it easier for ambulance drivers to drop off patients at a clinic on the street is being stymied by the very agency that helped set up the parking in the first place — the Department of Transportation.

As this not-so-shocking photo shows, a DOT car was parked the other day in the “Access-a-Ride Bus Stop” in front of 189 Montague St., a building housing several Long Island College Hospital Clinics.

The DOT had only just helped the Montague Street Business Improvement District create the space so that ambulette drivers would not need to double-park and block traffic while they discharge their cane-wielding patients in the middle of the street.

“We were so happy that DOT set up the space for us — in fact, they did it without much hassle at all,” said Chelsea Mauldin, executive director of the Montague Street BID.

“But since it was created in November, we have had a lot of problems with placard parking in that space,” she added, referring to city and state permit-bearing cars parking in the newly created space.

“The other day, there was even an NYPD car in there,” Mauldin said.

Mauldin reiterated that she was pleased by the way in which DOT and New York City Transit, which regulates ambulettes, worked together to create the spot — but said she was now working with the NYPD to ensure that the space remain unoccupied so that it can be available when needed.

The Brooklyn Paper’s photo speaks for itself — but not for the Department of Transportation, which sent over a statement expressing its concern that its employees and others were misusing the space.

“We are glad to provide parking for the ambulette service,” the statement said. “This DOT vehicle was illegally parked … and we are taking steps to prevent future occurrences.”

Reader Feedback

ManhattanDowntowner from Chinatown says:
FYI: Much of downtown Brooklyn is already in a Dept of Transportation "No Permit Area", although the public is generally not aware of this. Ever check the "back" of a parking permit - that tells you exactly how it's supposed to be used. Placard parking, by law, is illegal when used by government sector commuters who park all day. Community Boards 2 and 3 in lower Manhattan have unanimously passed resolutions requesting the Dept of Transportation to post "No Permit Parking" signs in their neighborhoods. This type of reeducation to government sector commuters, and to the public, is vital if we want our streets back for local residents. Best advice - keep calling 311 and documenting permit abuse so your local precinct gets the word, and then get your friends to make more and more 311 calls - documentation is key. In Chinatown, also located in a No Permit Area, there are paper No Permit Parking signs posted by the local precinct, and illegal permit parkers are ticketed, booted, towed, and placards are confiscated. That's what I call a necessary reeducation and enforcement of the law.
Dec. 7, 2007, 12:30 am
NoCongestionTaxing from Downtown Manhattan says:
If you are pro Congestion Taxing, think about this: Permit abusers, government sector commuters, will be coming into your Downtown Brooklyn neighborhoods in droves and parking for "free" after they have avoided coming into Manhattan. I would suggest a LOT of complaints to the DOT and to your community board NOW, and also a lot of 311 parking permit abuse complaint calls. Ask your local community board for the posting of permanent No Permit Parking signs - Community Boards 2 and 3 did it in lower Manhattan. Get this done before congestion pricing or things will only get worse.
Dec. 7, 2007, 1:18 am

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