NYPD Unions File Complaint Over Placard Cuts

12:35 PM EDT on June 24, 2008

Taking a cue from New York's Brightest, the five unions representing the city's Finest have filed a complaint aimed at undermining city parking reforms by retaining free privileges for police officers, detectives, lieutenants and captains. The Post reports that the complaint "contend[s] the city was required to negotiate the new plan before yanking more than 20,000 permits."

The unions' complaint, filed May 30 with the Board of Collective Bargaining, seeks to have all the permits restored.
As a result of the new policy, cops' cars are now being towed andticketed, the complaint states. According to the unions, the reductionof free-parking perks "creates an economic hardship" and violates statelabor law.

So the unions are acknowledging here that cops expect to be able to park illegally without being ticketed, as long as they have a placard. Nice. And it seems that cutting back on $4/gal gas -- not to mention car maintenance, wear-and-tear, etc. -- in exchange for a cheaper transit commute would actually save money in many instances. Unless, of course, the complaint itself is somehow disingenuous.

The complaint ... acknowledges that the union contracts do not address parking placards.
One labor source last week indicated the complaint was designed merelyto prevent the city from removing more police parking permits next year.

To sum up: police labor unions have filed an action that they know is baseless in hopes of holding on to a perk that allows as many of their members as possible to break the law with impunity.

In light of these developments, maybe it's time for a new NYPD superlative: New York's _____________ .

Photo: Uncivil Servants

Brad Aaron

Brad Aaron began writing for Streetsblog in 2007, after years as a reporter, editor, and publisher in the alternative weekly business. Brad adopted New York's dysfunctional traffic justice system as his primary beat for Streetsblog. He lives in Manhattan.

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