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May 11, 2004
REASON #8,903,456 TO HATE NEW YORK
Because the city deliberately builds parking meters too close to a fire hydrant. The result is that when people park at the meter thinking that they're parking legally, they're actually parking illegally and get a $115 ticket.
According to the New York Daily News, the city has been receiving complaints over this for at least two years, and has done nothing to address the problem.
State law requires that cars be parked at least 15 feet from a hydrant. The meter, at the rear of the space, is 27 feet, 5 inches from the hydrant, leaving a tiny space of 12 feet, 5inches. That's not even big enough for a 2004 Volkswagen Beetle, which comes in at a foot too long. Don't even think about a Ford Taurus - that's about 4 feet too long.
Here's the way officials have usually been reacting:
A retired iron worker confronted a pair of traffic enforcement agents after discovering his ticket. One said she couldn't help. Another told him to "'Go talk to [Mayor] Bloomberg,'." He pleaded not guilty by mail, sending in a letter of explanation and photographs of his car parked in the spot. An administrative law judge ruled against him late last month. He spent three hours at the Parking Violations Bureau yesterday only to be told to pay the fine, and then file an appeal.
So merchants' and citizen complaints were ignored for about two years... But suddenly, when the Daily News splashed it on the front page and called the city with a 'what the hell' about it, we suddenly get this response:
"We realize there was an error made and the meter was improperly placed too close to the hydrant," DOT spokesman Tom Cocola said. "We thank the Daily News for calling this to our attention."
That's New York for you. Screw the people until you get caught... bleed every last dime from people paying for the so-called privlege of living here, and only stop when the press calls you on it. Yep, it's the city that never sleeps, all right.
