Comments on: Eyes on the Street: NYPD Shows Bus Lane Scofflaws How It’s Done

By: wake up

wake up — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:56:12 +0000

These cars are parked there as a anti-terrorism task force. They go around Manhattan and park outside of prominent potential terrorism targets (like the Empire State Building on 34 street) and do terrorism sweeps as well as maintain a presence.

Would you rather have some marked cars block a bus lane for a few hours or have mid-town Manhattan inaccessible for a month as they clean up the remnants of the Empire State Building after a terror attack?

By: Chris Rall

Chris Rall — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 05:51:31 +0000

I keep parking enforcement's # on my cell phone:
"Hi, parking enforcement?
I'd like to report a vehicle parked in the exclusive bus lane on 34th Street.
I'm concerned, because a lot of people are trying to get home from work, and the bus can't get through.
License plate number 2042.
It's a white Crown Vic with blue markings.
Thanks!"
Can you tell I don't live in NYC?

By: IsaacB

IsaacB — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 03:27:59 +0000

"...Just remember folks, BRT is as good as light-rail, for a fraction of the cost..."

By: The Author

The Author — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:23:30 +0000

@ddartley

Yes I know. Point taken, but I was trying to be as illustrative as possible with the aid of a photo.

@Liam

And yes, as you stated, the "fat" reference was most likely unnecessary given her dining choice...lol

By: Ian Turner

Ian Turner — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 02:23:00 +0000

herenthere,

The media in New York are quite cautious about bringing up the parking impunity issue because they are also a part of the placard-carrying elite.

By: herenthere

herenthere — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:51:44 +0000

Try sending these and other pics to the community affairs desk, then to the Community Board, and if all else fails, to the TV STATIONS. They'd love to get a piece of this action.

By: northgardner

northgardner — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:57:01 +0000

This is bad, but it's only one example of the NYPD's rampant disregard for traffic regulations. I often see NYPD cars *without their lights on* run red lights, make illegal U-turns, and the like.

By: Liam Patrick

Liam Patrick — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:54:01 +0000

The popeyes part suggested her size anyway.

By: ddartley

ddartley — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:59:49 +0000

Um, Author, sorry (to everyone) to be a PC cop here, and sure, imagery is a great tool for a writer, but I glanced at your blog and see you're someone with noble ideas... surely someone like you sees that the "fat, female" part is not very relevant to the story?

A relevant anecdote, sure, but I couldn't resist making that remark on it...

By: The Author

The Author — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:45:58 +0000

I meant "hoses" instead of "houses". iPhones aren't as smart as they think they are.

By: The Author

The Author — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:45:01 +0000

That's nothing. I saw a fire truck once not able to park or hook up there houses cause some fat female NYPD cop had illegally parked in a fire lane in front of a hydrant. People had to come into the Popeye's, where she was eating, to get her to move her car. Oh yeah...she walked leisurely to move it. Oh, to be immune from prosecution must be sweet.

By: Blue Wall

Blue Wall — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:54:19 +0000

These are cops stripped from precincts all over the city and assigned to drive around Manhattan in anti-terrorist surges paid for by federal homeland security grants. It's a way for PD to put cops on the federal payroll. According to PD it "deters" terrorists.

By: ddartley

ddartley — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:50:08 +0000

Thanks, Chris; I had the same thought process as you when I saw this. "Emergency? Engines off, all empty...not likely."

And you make a good point--taking that bus lane out of service doesn't just slow down bus riders, but everyone in the area.

By: Chris O'Leary

Chris O'Leary — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:44:49 +0000

Great pictures, ddartley. I can at least tell one is from the 104th Precinct, which is out in Ridgewood and Glendale, Queens. No excuse - the signs are clear.

By: ddartley

ddartley — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:39:28 +0000

Here are the shots I took. It was around 6:30pm when I got there.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10798592@N08/sets/72157621180539402/

Think_twice, the only answer to the threat you warn about is for as many people as possible to take as many pictures as possible as often as possible.

By: Think_twice

Think_twice — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:27:49 +0000

Be careful when you take your pictures. They know what we're up to and will arrest you and seize your camera.

By: Mike Epstein

Mike Epstein — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:17:18 +0000

You can tell what precinct the cars are from based on the markings on the side towards the rear. I can't read them from this photo, though.

By: Blue Wall

Blue Wall — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:16:17 +0000

The PD is there curing terrorism. There have been no terrorist attacks on 34th Street. This is why.

By: ddartley

ddartley — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:10:50 +0000

Wow, I took the same picture yesterday; I just haven't put it on Flickr yet! Will do so in a few minutes.