Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
DSCN4119.jpg

The sheer size of this vehicle, which I encountered while walking down Court Street in Brooklyn the other day, was what made me stop and take a picture. As you can see, the traffic enforcement officer's head basically just reaches the hood. (Makes you wonder what the driver's visibility is.)

Right, the traffic enforcement officer. I waited to watch her write a ticket for the vehicle, which had been left idling with no one behind the wheel, blocking a fire hydrant and parked a couple of feet out into the lane of travel (it's a sharrow lane to boot), while its owner apparently made a stop in the bodega.

DSCN4118.jpgBut she just kept walking.

"Aren't you going to write him a ticket?" I asked.

"Can't ticket a placard," she replied with a shrug.

I could barely see up onto the dashboard, but there was some kind of placard there. Then I noticed the letters "VAS" on the plates, which apparently stand for "Volunteer Ambulance Service."

You'd think a Volunteer Ambulance Service member would realize that leaving an unattended vehicle idling is unsafe. You'd think someone trained to save lives might think twice about it. You'd think.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

One Betrayal After Another: The Eric Adams Bus And Bike Legacy

The first mayor tasked with implementing the city's Streets Master Plan pitched himself as the man who'd get the job done. He very much did not.

December 29, 2025

Monday’s Headlines: It’s Hard to Bike in a Snowstorm

Even relatively small storms are a challenge for a city that claims it wants to encourage cycling. Plus other news.

December 29, 2025

Streetsies 2025 (And Friday Video!): Vote for Your Favorite Clips of the Year

A New York Met, the birth of "No Kings," and Cuomo running a stop sign are just some of the best things we caught on camera this year.

December 26, 2025

Memo to Mamdani: Support the QueensLink for Better Mass Transit

The Rockaways needs the transit benefits of QueensLink. Our contributor hopes the new mayor puts his weight behind the concept.

December 26, 2025

How Mamdani Can Deliver a Bigger Dream for Buses

To truly upgrade the New York City's bus system, the Mamdani administration needs to think even bigger than "fast and free."

December 26, 2025
See all posts