NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – The U.S. Department of Justice threatened to sue the NYPD in a letter, demanding that they stop illegally parking in the middle of sidewalks around precincts, stating that it's a violation.
"We are reviewing the letter," an NYPD spokesperson told 1010 WINS on Monday and confirmed it's receipt.
The DOJ sent the letter on March 29 stating that parking around stationhouses is illegal and that these obstructions violate the Americans with Disabilities Act, threatening a lawsuit by the Civil Rights Division if the issue isn't addressed.
“In the event we determine that we cannot secure compliance voluntarily to correct the deficiencies identified in this letter, the Attorney General may initiate a lawsuit pursuant to the ADA,” U.S. Attorney for the Southern District Damian Williams wrote in the letter. “We would prefer, however, to resolve this matter by working with you to negotiate a court-enforceable agreement that brings the City of New York and NYPD’s practices into compliance with the ADA.”
The letter stated that the NYPD "failed to ensure that the pedestrian grid is 'readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities,'" as city vehicles constantly park on sidewalks and in crosswalks, stating that as a result, it has not "ensured that accessible routes are properly maintained and free from obstructions.”
At least one type of illegal parking was observed at 91% of the 77 NYPD station houses during in-person visits and historical imagery checks, according to a study published last year.
Between January 2021 and July 2023, the NYPD received 5,499 complaints about city-permitted vehicles parking on sidewalks. However, they only issued tickets for 2.8% of these complaints, according to an investigation by the DOI. Additionally, they only ticketed 10.7% of complaints about noncity-permitted vehicles parked illegally on sidewalks during the same period, according to the report.
The letter recommended that the NYPD adopt a clear parking policy for City vehicles around precincts, and suggested updating training for traffic officers to highlight the impact of parking on sidewalks and crosswalks.
It also proposed creating a procedure for the public to report obstructive City vehicle parking through channels like 311 and suggests that penalties should be imposed on drivers and officers who fail to address these complaints.
Lastly, the DOJ also advised the NYPD to provide quarterly reports to SDNY for three years, detailing complaints, evidence, and resolutions related to obstructive parking.