Blurred lines don’t stop ticketing agents

Blurred lines don’t stop ticketing agents
Community News Group / Steven Goodstein

There is a restricted parking zone that has caused and is continuing to cause confusion and unfair ticketing amongst drivers in the Bronx.

The restricted parking zone, located where Colden Avenue meets Radcliff Avenue is only partially painted, creating a deceiving parking space for cars and has become a problem for many of those who live and park in the vicinity.

The issue stems back to as far as 20 years ago, when local drivers began complaining about how they were being ticketed for parking in what they believed to be a valid parking space.

It’s no surprise when one looks at the restricted parking zone, a semi-painted area with lines that end rather symmetrical. This has created the illusion that it is not against the law to park within its lines – its unfinished lines that have generated over 150 complaints in total.

“People have been complaining about being ticketed in that spot ever since they began attempting to repaint the lines,” said Alfred Pappalardi.

“When I first lived in this neighborhood, this was an issue concerning parking and ticketing. Now that I’ve moved back, it’s apparent that this has become a safety issue as well.”

Pappalardi is no stranger to this neighborhood or the restricted parking zone, having lived in the neighborhood of Morris Park for over 30 years in total and having just moved back twoyears ago.

He constantly ponders why these lines have yet to be painted properly and why drivers who park there are consistently being taken advantage of by law enforcement.

“The traffic agents and patrol will drive by the zone at night and ticket people at night because they know that people park there,” said Pappalardi

In a sense, this restricted parking zone is a paradox, barely attempting to deter cars from parking in its partially painted lines with a sharp left turn/U-turn onto Ratcliff just ahead of it, making this portion of the road both confusing and unsafe.

“There’s a lot of problems like this going on in neighborhoods like this one,” said Jeremy Warneke, district manager of Community Board 11, who sees these issue all over Morris Park and Pelham Parkway.

“Unpainted and faded lines, bleached street signs, unpaved walkways and confusing restricted parking zones only contribute to more confusion and less safety. These may seem like small issues, but when they add up they start to become big inconveniences.”

Currently, the city agency resonsible for the lines only paints at night, when cars are usually already parked within the restriction lines until the next morning. A paintjob during the day would more than likely send a clear “no parking” message to drivers while increasing driving safety.

This zone being painted thoroughly and fully will be a big benefit not only to the drivers who have been ticketed, but also for the safety of the drivers when they need to make this left turn.

Reach Reporter Steven Goodstein at (718) 742–3384. E-mail him at sgood‌stein‌@cngl‌ocal.com.