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New York, NY - Audit: Lousy Record Keeping at Disability Parking Permit Program

Published on:   February 9, 2010 09:57 AM
News Source:  NY Daily News
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New York, NY - Perfectly healthy scammers could fake their way to free parking on city streets by exploiting shoddy record keeping in a program for disabled drivers, a new audit claims.

City Controller John Liu says the city Transportation Department couldn’t account for 22,000 holographic seals that make disabled parking permits official.

If scammers got hold of the seals, they could doctor the dashboard permits and park for free at meters, in no-parking zones and in other off-limits curbside spots.

“The application process for these permits is rigorous, and necessarily so,” Liu said. “Unfortunately, the agency’s own procedures fall far short of rigorous ... and leaves the city vulnerable to the issuance of fraudulent permits.”

Auditors, initially working for former city Controller William Thompson, did not uncover any fraudsters in their review of the city’s permit program.

The permits they sampled appeared to have proper medical documentation and met other criteria, though auditors found examples of permits improperly issued to people with out-of-state licences, and examples of people improperly getting more than one permit.

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More alarming were inventory records showing the Transportation Department should have had 49 rolls of holographic security seals - about 100,500 stickers. But auditors counted just 38 rolls with 78,500 seals.

The Transportation Department says it uses several layers of “tight physical security controls” and has no evidence of missing or misappropriated seals.

Liu’s auditors say the agency offered no proof, and knocked its “grossly deficient” controls.


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Read Comments (18)  —  Post Yours »

1

 Feb 09, 2010 at 09:01 AM Anonymous Says:

If a person is caught with a handicapped sticker but has no obvious handicap, he/she should be ticketed, the car impounded and the sticker confiscated. Once these scam artists know there will be a big penalty for such fraud, they will be reluctant to take any chances. The inconvenience to a few legitimate handicapped users (i.e. a friend dropping them off for a medical appointment gets caught) are outweighed by the benefits of eliminating the fraud which is pervasive.

2

 Feb 09, 2010 at 09:18 AM Anonymous Says:

Reply to #1  
Anonymous Says:

If a person is caught with a handicapped sticker but has no obvious handicap, he/she should be ticketed, the car impounded and the sticker confiscated. Once these scam artists know there will be a big penalty for such fraud, they will be reluctant to take any chances. The inconvenience to a few legitimate handicapped users (i.e. a friend dropping them off for a medical appointment gets caught) are outweighed by the benefits of eliminating the fraud which is pervasive.

No "obvious" handicap? So the meter maids will now be entrusted with medical decisions? What about a vision impairment? Heart disease? Neurological conditions? How about a parent or caregiver who drives a handicapped person...when Tatte goes to pick up Shloime nebach from the respite program and has to parg out front to go in and get Shloime, should the meter maid ticket and impound the car because Tatte has no "obvious handicap"?

Plainly you need to think this through.

3

 Feb 09, 2010 at 10:47 AM Anonymous Says:

The con artists always know how to beat the system. Recently, I was waiting in the freezing cold for a bus outside of the Masbia Soup Kitchen on Coney Island Avenue. Out walks this man who looked like the proverbial cat that ate the canary. While I was waiting for the bus, this soup kitchen customer satisfyingly stepped into his recent model van and happily drove off.

4

 Feb 09, 2010 at 11:05 AM Anonymous Says:

you cant always SEE what the handicap is. someone with a handicap tag should have matching ID in their wallet as well.

5

 Feb 09, 2010 at 02:27 PM JoBlow Says:

Reply to #3  
Anonymous Says:

The con artists always know how to beat the system. Recently, I was waiting in the freezing cold for a bus outside of the Masbia Soup Kitchen on Coney Island Avenue. Out walks this man who looked like the proverbial cat that ate the canary. While I was waiting for the bus, this soup kitchen customer satisfyingly stepped into his recent model van and happily drove off.

Stop Judging people, you don't know what that person is going through "Even though he drives a late model van" he might not have what to eat at home. Oh now start asking questions why does he have such a nice van etc etc. You still don't know his situation is. Maybe he lost his parnuse lately. So stop it.

6

 Feb 09, 2010 at 02:40 PM BinehYeseireh Says:

This is a Chillul Hashem... You all know this to be true....half of Brooklyn have these Handicap privileges.. What are we in a crippled society? Unless the person ch"v physically can't walk, they shouldn't be issued these valuable credentials. I once asked a guy with handicap plates what his handicap was, because he looked "gezint like a bear" to me, and he told me that he has a urination problem - he goes from 0 to 60 in mamish a second... He sometimes needs to run emergency... I laughed when I heard it... What's the worst case scenerio with his "handicap?" - Who cares if he needs to put his pants in the laundry once in a while... for THAT he should get the best parking spots and personally save thousands of dollars in parking tickets?? That's why I strongly feel that this is a Chillul Hashem and should be stopped!!

7

 Feb 09, 2010 at 03:05 PM OMG Says:

Reply to #3  
Anonymous Says:

The con artists always know how to beat the system. Recently, I was waiting in the freezing cold for a bus outside of the Masbia Soup Kitchen on Coney Island Avenue. Out walks this man who looked like the proverbial cat that ate the canary. While I was waiting for the bus, this soup kitchen customer satisfyingly stepped into his recent model van and happily drove off.

How do you know that this man didn’t actually dropped of a big donation of food to the food bank and this soup kitchen *benefactor* satisfyingly stepped into his recent model van and happily drove off?

8

 Feb 09, 2010 at 03:11 PM Anonymous Says:

Reply to #5  
JoBlow Says:

Stop Judging people, you don't know what that person is going through "Even though he drives a late model van" he might not have what to eat at home. Oh now start asking questions why does he have such a nice van etc etc. You still don't know his situation is. Maybe he lost his parnuse lately. So stop it.

It was I that drove the van... #3 is 100% right! Here in NY parking is tough so "a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do!! You don't like it? Who's stopping you from doing the same! PS the soup at Masbia is fantastic!

9

 Feb 09, 2010 at 03:37 PM Anonymous Says:

Reply to #7  
OMG Says:

How do you know that this man didn’t actually dropped of a big donation of food to the food bank and this soup kitchen *benefactor* satisfyingly stepped into his recent model van and happily drove off?

I know because I was standing out there for 45 minutes waiting for a bus, I saw him go in empty handed and sit down at a table and fress. Any more shailas?

10

 Feb 09, 2010 at 04:13 PM Anonymous Says:

Reply to #9  
Anonymous Says:

I know because I was standing out there for 45 minutes waiting for a bus, I saw him go in empty handed and sit down at a table and fress. Any more shailas?

Wow, what is their exact address? He got a complete meal in 45 minutes for free no questions asked? That's better service than at Mendy's across the street!

11

 Feb 09, 2010 at 04:36 PM Anonymous Says:

Reply to #1  
Anonymous Says:

If a person is caught with a handicapped sticker but has no obvious handicap, he/she should be ticketed, the car impounded and the sticker confiscated. Once these scam artists know there will be a big penalty for such fraud, they will be reluctant to take any chances. The inconvenience to a few legitimate handicapped users (i.e. a friend dropping them off for a medical appointment gets caught) are outweighed by the benefits of eliminating the fraud which is pervasive.

Oh really, so in your thinking, if I take my disabled mother to the doctor one day, shopping the next, to physical therapy another day, it's no big deal if I get ticketed and my car impounded because we use her handicapped sticker? You're selfish and self-righteous and people like you should try to find even a little spark of rachmonos in your hearts.

12

 Feb 09, 2010 at 04:39 PM Anonymous Says:

Reply to #3  
Anonymous Says:

The con artists always know how to beat the system. Recently, I was waiting in the freezing cold for a bus outside of the Masbia Soup Kitchen on Coney Island Avenue. Out walks this man who looked like the proverbial cat that ate the canary. While I was waiting for the bus, this soup kitchen customer satisfyingly stepped into his recent model van and happily drove off.

You may be right but you may also not know the entire picture. Who knows what that man was doing in Masbia? Maybe he had just dropped off a nice check in order to help provide more food for those that need it. It's not right to assume he was there to scam a meal.

13

 Feb 09, 2010 at 04:44 PM Anonymous Says:

Reply to #6  
BinehYeseireh Says:

This is a Chillul Hashem... You all know this to be true....half of Brooklyn have these Handicap privileges.. What are we in a crippled society? Unless the person ch"v physically can't walk, they shouldn't be issued these valuable credentials. I once asked a guy with handicap plates what his handicap was, because he looked "gezint like a bear" to me, and he told me that he has a urination problem - he goes from 0 to 60 in mamish a second... He sometimes needs to run emergency... I laughed when I heard it... What's the worst case scenerio with his "handicap?" - Who cares if he needs to put his pants in the laundry once in a while... for THAT he should get the best parking spots and personally save thousands of dollars in parking tickets?? That's why I strongly feel that this is a Chillul Hashem and should be stopped!!

Frankly, I think you're making this whole story up because I can't imagine someone telling you this very personal problem he has. But on the off chance that it is true then shame on you for laughing. Do you know what it is like to suffer from something like this? You think he should walk around in messed up pants? Maybe go to work like that, have business meetings like that? Something is wrong with you.

14

 Feb 09, 2010 at 05:03 PM OMG Says:

Reply to #9  
Anonymous Says:

I know because I was standing out there for 45 minutes waiting for a bus, I saw him go in empty handed and sit down at a table and fress. Any more shailas?

First of all going in doesn’t necessary signify that he eat maybe he wrote a check for charity, second I don’t believe your story, due to the fact that you say that you were standing in one place for 45 minutes, and secondly, he just happened to sit down right at your window so you could observe, and finally how do you know that he doesn’t work in that facility and he set down to eat then he went back out to do his job. Finally I don’t know of that guy is working in that facility but I am willing to give him the benefit of doubt but you are willing to say what you are assuming not what you know.

15

 Feb 09, 2010 at 09:05 PM socialworker Says:

Maybe if people in late model cars are seen walking in and out of Masbia (which is trying to present itself as a bekovedika restaurant -just free of charge for those in need), then my poverty stricken clients, that literally are out of food when the food stamps card is depleted, will feel less ashamed to bring their children to a "restaurant" for a warm meal. I know of situations where a mother had to chose between spending her last $20 or shoes for her toddler or (expensive) gluten free or other non-allergenic foods for her autistic child. I wish there was no stigma attached to entering Masbia.

16

 Feb 09, 2010 at 10:28 PM Anonymous Says:

Reply to #3  
Anonymous Says:

The con artists always know how to beat the system. Recently, I was waiting in the freezing cold for a bus outside of the Masbia Soup Kitchen on Coney Island Avenue. Out walks this man who looked like the proverbial cat that ate the canary. While I was waiting for the bus, this soup kitchen customer satisfyingly stepped into his recent model van and happily drove off.

al tadin es chaveirchah ad shetagiah limkomo. many years ago a man in my shul had to threaten a tv station with a law suit. he ran a successful business, and among his employees was ahard-working goy with a large family. he was entitled to get surplus foods, despite everything on the books. the boss lent his worker a brand new car on his lunch break to go pickup the food and take it home. the photograph seemed to say "fraud " but the "investigative reporter " never checked on facts. if someone is taking let the chief accountant take care of him

17

 Feb 09, 2010 at 10:44 PM Anonymous Says:

I have a handicap hang tag. I suffer from deficits from a brain tumor and at times have an unsteady gait and at other times I may suffer from sudden weakness and unable to walk distances. And, at other times I appear to be completely capable. Sometimes people look at me when I appear fine, but if I have an attack I cannot walk more than a few feet without aid of a cane (which I really hate using, since it makes me look like an old man). So, no one should judge by appearances.

18

 Feb 10, 2010 at 08:56 AM Anonymous Says:

Reply to #15  
socialworker Says:

Maybe if people in late model cars are seen walking in and out of Masbia (which is trying to present itself as a bekovedika restaurant -just free of charge for those in need), then my poverty stricken clients, that literally are out of food when the food stamps card is depleted, will feel less ashamed to bring their children to a "restaurant" for a warm meal. I know of situations where a mother had to chose between spending her last $20 or shoes for her toddler or (expensive) gluten free or other non-allergenic foods for her autistic child. I wish there was no stigma attached to entering Masbia.

That's the whole point. The con artists are not ashamed to enter Masbia, while those that are truly in need of Masbia are too ashamed to walk in.

19

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