Drivers on Livingston Street were blanketed with tickets and some had their vehicles towed after the city changed parking regulations overnight, yet left parking meters in place with no notices that they were no longer in operation.
Signage stating the new regulations — no parking or standing from 7 am to 7 pm, Monday through Friday — was installed on the north side of Livingston between Court and Flatbush avenues, but many motorists ignored the subtly altered signs and fed the existing parking meters anyway.
“This is foul,” said motorist Kareem Tyree, who received a ticket and barely missed being towed. “How do you give a ticket [when] they still have meters here? It makes no sense.”
City officials say there is a good reason for the change in signage.
“The Department of Transportation studied the area last year for opportunities to reconfigure the street to improve mobility for buses,” said an agency spokeswoman. “As part of the project, we will install painted bus lanes with expanded hours.”
The old regulations restricted parking or standing on the north side (westbound traffic) from 7-10 am. Metered parking is now available on the north side weekday nights and weekends.
Business owners on the strip said the city needs to better inform the public.
“They have made it a ‘No Standing’ zone just like that,” said Peter Sperry, owner of Trophy World on Livingston Street between Boerum Place and Smith Street. “I’ve already had four customers have their cars towed without the benefit of being told about the new regulations if that is what they are.”
