New York, NY – The NYPD has doled out more parking summonses in the Brooklyn Heights area this year than in any other precinct in New York City.
As of May 20, 19, 672 parking summonses have been issued in the 84th Precinct, which encompasses the Brooklyn Heights and Boerum Hill sections of Brooklyn. The total is more than double the amount of summonses issued in the majority of precincts in the city.
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With about 1,000 more parking summonses issued in the Brooklyn Heights precinct this year compared to the same period last year, parking summonses in Brooklyn Heights have been on the rise for the past two years, increasing by about 25% during that period. Some experts say the spike is likely the result of a standoff between community members and the police over the alleged abuse of government-issued parking permits in the neighborhood.
Home to federal and state courthouses as well as a number of city agencies, Brooklyn Heights has many curbside parking spots that are zoned for drivers with government parking permits. Three of every four parking permit holders in the city used them illegally. The study also found that police officers were responsible for the largest share of the violations.
In response to community complaints, the police department and Mayor Bloomberg have pledged to cut down on drivers who use their permits without a public purpose.
The NYPD declined to comment. [NY Sun]