“They Take Care Of Us, So We Take Care Of Them”

Your whining above comes off as petty and angry. And it’s very classy that you’ve posted the ‘offender’s’ license plate! I hope you feel better about yourself now that you’ve written this post.

This is not a parking plaque issue. MD plates are issued by NY state. They are official plates from the DMV. Their PURPOSE is to allow cars to park illegally while doctors are treating their patients. If you want the police interrogating your doctor about why he’s parking somewhere while he might be on his way to treat you, then the proper people to whine to are the NYS legislature, unless they are too busy beating their girlfriends or stealing your money.

So either you got a ticket and you’re bitter, or you saw someone else get a ticket, and are minding their business, but either way posting the officer’s name, who had noting to do with the issuing of the plates by the DMV, on the internet makes you look like a petty jerk.

Here’s a question, if the MD was parked overnight in front of a fire hydrant, would that be OK for the apologists here? We pay the police to mete out parking tickets with equality under the law for all. MD plates do not exempt you from parking tickets, nor does being a clergy member.

These MDs are not treating patients on Pierrepont St. There’s a goddamn dentist who parks on Red Hook Lane (on the freaking sidewalk) all the time, and places a placard in his window saying he’s on emergency medical business. His office is upstairs. He’s a freaking dentist.

Do these rules apply to podiatrists too? How about homeopaths or lactation consultants?

Having circled our neighborhood many times looking for parking frustrated with all of the “privileged” abusers, I think the post is perfectly legitimate and only seeking equal treatment under the law. So here’s another “thank you” to counter the inexplicable cries of “petty” from matt and Willowtown. I think our city’s parking laws are too burdensome and designed largely to maximize ticketing revenue, but I can live with that as long as we’re all treated the same.

I just have to add that I am on the verge of not reading this blog anymore because I’m so sick of the parking wars posts. I have never even owned a car and can think of no good reason for someone who lives and works in NYC to own one, but of course, it isn’t my business how others choose to spend their money. Every time someone posts something I feel like I have to explain what it’s like from the cop’s perspective. How would you like it if someone was unhappy with the way you were doing your job, even though you were doing it in the exact manner you were required to by your company’s policies, and some disgruntled malcontent posted your name on the internet for some purpose only known to him, or interfered when you were trying to do your job? You would probably hire a lawyer, but cops can’t do that. He did all he could. He was polite and professional and told you where you could complain if you thought what he was doing was wrong, and you replied by posting his name on a blog because you think you’re some sort of heroic agitator railing against the corrupt system.

I have lived in this neighborhood for years, and I love living here and I have good friends and neighbors who live here too. But I would never want to work here. I am glad I work in the ghetto, which is not that far from here, where people call the police when they have a real problem, like drug dealers in their buildings, or domestic violence, or gangs with weapons in their children’s playgrounds, where I am happy to do what I can to solve a real problem, instead of hearing a bunch of whining about people’s neighbors parking illegally. I dare you to go to Brownsville and in plain view of everyone on the block harass a cop because you want him to write a ticket to a neighbor that you just ratted out.

As for WillowtownCop’s comments,
FWIW, I enjoy reading your comments and will miss you if you decide to stop leaving them.

That being said, unless you’re Valerie Plame or otherwise working undercover, if someone is worried about their name getting out while doing their job, it’s probably worth a moment of reflection. I would say that goes extra for someone such as a police officer, who is granted powers that civilians don’t have.

Otherwise, it’s a ‘you need me on that wall’ speech.

Hi WT,
Glad you are back – truly. :)

Neither car was occupied. The doctor’s car had been parked there for about 3 hours or so. It’s just the reflection from the flash that is making the lights look ‘on’.

I personally witnessed the officer writing the ticket.

It’s funny you mention that though, as I thought of digitally altering the pic to tone that down, but didn’t want to re-touch things.

I meant the guy who got the ticket.

There are two cars with MD plates who have been “on call” on Pierrepont Street for at least 5 years now.

I understand the need for doctor’s on call to have this right — altho doesn’t it seem awfully antiquated — but when people are abusing this right, it becomes yer basic abuse of power.

Too bad cops who ticket don’t have regular rounds. That might do the trick.

A doctor can’t rush to an emergency call from home unless his car is parked out front. That’s why they have special plates. End of story. Let’s get back to the religious placards- that actually makes sense.

Bob hit the nail on the head … any chance we can turn Brooklyn Heights into Amsterdam? Our neighbors need to reeeelllaaxxxxxx ….

I would agree with Bob except for the fact that the “doctors on call” are often driven and parked by teenage kids with shopping bags. When do you think the last time the official Amtrak dermatologist had to rush off to an emergency?

I would reeeeeeeellllllllaaxxxx more if regular citizens of earth had some leeway. I once brought my tiny newborn baby home from the hospital after having been in the NICU for a spell. I wanted to have a minute to introduce older sibling and big dog to the new addition and get everyone settled. Maybe even take a picture. I left a dated and TIMED note in the window, “Bringing newborn baby home from hospital! Be back in 5 minutes.” and sure enough, got a ticket. You have to laugh.

Hi Joan,
My name is Peter Kaufman. Any time I’m doing something illegal, take a picture and blog about it. Sauce for the gander.

Actually, feel free to blog about me – period. I’ll feel validated. :)

Ink Lake, I think you mistakenly mix together a bunch of things here. There is a big difference between someone with an MD license plate (issued by the state, so i don’t know where you get the idea that this isn’t “codified” somewhere already) and someone with a delivery van in Times Square and a fake paper placard in the window. The biggest difference here is that one person is breaking the law while the other is abiding by the law as it currently is. Furthermore while it is annoying that people other than the doctor benefit from his plates while driving the car thus potentially abusing the system, I feel your annoyance comes from some type of class resentment based on the fact that he is a doctor with a Mercedes S Class. Why don’t you complain about the Beat up Blue Cadillac with the handicapped tags and the police dept. window stickers that is permanently parked at Clark and Hicks and only seems to move so that a metallic beige Pickup truck can park there periodically? Maybe it doesn’t touch off your righteous indignation that seems primarily focused on the wealthy and the religious.
People abuse handicapped stickers and plates too. School teachers have also been caught abusing their placards. But maybe it is harder to get outraged if the cars aren’t luxury cars, or they aren’t blocking the bike lane that you like to use.

Does anyone know for sure if “MD” plates actually legally gives you the right to ignore traffic laws, or is it just a vanity plate that traffic cops have elected (seemingly under orders) to ignore? I can’t find anything online to say one way or the other.