Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
City Council

OPINION: Why We Must Eliminate Placards — And Here’s How We’ll Do It

Placard abuse in Downtown Brooklyn makes once-safe streets impassible.

Council Member Lincoln Restler
Council Member Lincoln Restler
Lincoln Restler

Every day, thousands of government officials and city contractors abuse their privilege in neighborhoods across New York City by using government issued or fake placards to park illegally. This is not just an abuse of power, it’s a public safety risk and nuisance — cars illegally obstruct pedestrian space, endanger cyclists, and take away public parking.

This behavior is rampant throughout the boroughs but due to the high density of government office buildings, Downtown Brooklyn in the 33rd Council District is the epicenter of this abuse and capital of placard corruption. This is particularly maddening as it is the most transit rich area in New York City outside of Manhattan.

To address this issue we need to stop issuing placards and actually enforce against illegal placard activity. We’ve introduced two key pieces of legislation in the New York City Council to achieve these two goals.

Our bill would revoke all placards issued to individuals for their personal vehicles if they do not have government plates, unless those placards are collectively bargained or granted due to disability.

Passing this legislation would eliminate roughly 60,000 placards issued by the City of New York annually to federal, state, and city agency employees, including the NYPD. In many instances, these placards go to non-emergency agencies such as the Department of Finance, and are abused every day by workers who park their personal cars illegally instead of taking mass transit.

Right now, placard corruption is widespread, and we need citizens to be empowered to report abuse when they see it in order to hold public officials accountable. We introduced a version of former Council Member Stephen Levin’s bill to allow citizens to report instances of public employees engaging in placard abuse to the Department of Transportation and result in a civil penalty.

Every day, placard abuse forces neighbors using wheelchairs to navigate unsafe sidewalks, cyclists to go up against oncoming traffic, and parents to push strollers into the street. We have one of the most well connected subway and bus systems in the world — there’s no reason someone needs to drive their car to work only to block a bike lane or sidewalk all day long.

City employees should work for the public, not the other way around. That’s why I’ve refused a placard as a City Council member, and it’s why the Council needs to pass this legislation to revoke placards, empower citizens, and end placard abuse once and for all.

Lincoln Restler, a former de Blasio administration official, is now Council Member for a large swath of Downtown Brooklyn, Williamsburg and Greenpoint. Prior coverage of his fight against placards is here.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Waste of Time: Full-Salaried NYPD Cops Now Needed to Enforce the Unprotected Bedford Avenue Bike Lane

Streets that are properly designed — with bike lanes that can't be blocked or narrower lanes in which drivers can't speed — don't need squads of cops to hand out tickets.

August 7, 2025

NYC Could Have Its First Car-Free Neighborhood (But Won’t Get It Due To Revanchist Pols)

Creedmoor should not become just another mixed-use development, but, instead, become America’s next great neighborhood.

Northern Disclosure: Canada’s Road Laws Could Help Save U.S. Lives

The U.S. would be safer if we implemented some of Canada's most common roadway laws — but the politics are complicated.

August 7, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines: Vanderbilt to Last Edition

We had a lot of problems with a New York Magazine story that forgot the benefits of open streets and outdoor dining. Plus other news.

August 7, 2025

Construction Begins On Deliverista Hub Highlighting Need For More Infrastructure

It's one small hub for a few humans, but what's needed is a giant leap for humankind.

August 6, 2025

It’s Back! 34th Street Busway Revived In Midtown Rezoning Deal

The Adams administration has agreed to create a 34th Street busway as part an agreement to rezone a slice of Midtown.

August 6, 2025
See all posts