Neighbors in Downtown Brooklyn demand crackdown on rampant illegal parking

"Councilmember Lincoln Restler says the scale of the problem is staggering. "There are cars literally parked in the roadway, where cars are supposed to be moving," he told CBSN News New York's Hannah Kliger during a recent walkthrough. To understand how bad the issue really is, Restler's staff conducted a survey. "We found on average that there are 457 illegally parked cars on any given day ... just in Downtown Brooklyn," he said."

"Walking along Adams Street, Restler pointed to dozens of vehicles he said don't belong there. "They just park their cars in the crosswalks, in the bike lanes, in no standing zones. And it creates really dangerous conditions," he said. "These are the people that are responsible for enforcing the law, right? Upholding the law. And yet they break it every single day.""

Downtown Brooklyn streets are clogged with double-parked cars, blocked bike lanes, and vehicles parked in no-standing zones. Commuters and cyclists report unsafe conditions and certain stretches of road are avoided. A survey found on average 457 illegally parked cars on any given day in Downtown Brooklyn, with worst offenders congregating near courthouses, police precincts, and fire stations. Vehicles are parked in crosswalks, bike lanes, and at hydrants, creating dangerous conditions for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. A councilmember calls the scale staggering and is pushing for a three-part response including revoking 60,000 placards and increasing NYPD enforcement.

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