8 Arrested In Phony Parking Placard Crackdown
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Eight people have been arrested in connection with a crackdown on phony parking placards.
The suspects were arrested Tuesday morning following a probe by the Manhattan District Attorney's office and the New York City Department of Investigation.
The eight defendants - five men and three women - said nothing as investigators led them out of the 5th Precinct in Chinatown.
"Parking comes at a premium in a city like New York and using fraudulent placards to circumvent the rules is a crime. These individuals abused City parking regulations and attempted to escape paying the penalties by posing as City employees with City-issued placards or by using fake handicap parking placards reserved for those in real need, according to the charges," said DOI Commissioner Margaret Garnett.
All submitted unauthorized parking placards to the Department of Finance to fight tickets. The bogus placards included:
- Handicapped
- City Law Department
- New York Blood Center
- United States Postal Service
Investigators say in all but one case, their ticket pleas were denied and the summonses were paid in full.
All eight pleaded not guilty and were released without bail.