Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Halloran’s Parking Ticket Dismissed in Court

Rogue Ticket Agent Disciplined by NYPD

Council Member Dan Halloran had his controversial June 14 parking ticket dismissed in Queens traffic court today by an administrative judge.

After reviewing photos, video and written testimony from the scene, the judge ruled that Halloran’s car was idling, not parked, when he was given his ticket in Whitestone. Additionally, Halloran’s City Council license plates prohibit him from getting certain parking tickets while on City Council duty, as Halloran was at the time of the incident.

The ticket was given by infamous rogue agent Daniel Chu, who has since been disciplined by the Department, as retaliation after Halloran observed the agent violating Department policy.

On June 14, Halloran and his chief of staff observed Agent Chu driving recklessly down residential streets in Whitestone, running stop signs while blaring his emergency lights. They followed the agent a few blocks to a nearby Dunkin Donuts, where Halloran witnessed Chu illegally block a crosswalk in front of the store, then go inside to buy himself an iced coffee. Uncoincidentally, Chu frequently tickets drivers for parking in this exact spot.

Chu is still writing tickets in Queens – just not in Halloran’s Northeast Queens district. Chu admitted in an internal NYPD review that he was speeding while talking on his cell phone on June 14, and that he parked illegally in front of the Dunkin Donuts. As punishment, Chu has lost vacation time and had his NYPD vehicle taken away. He is also undergoing sensitivity training.

“The streets of Whitestone are a better place today, now that this agent has been removed from them,” Council Member Halloran said. “I am happy that my own bogus ticket was dismissed. But my ticket is just the tip of the iceberg. Agent Chu has written countless questionable tickets, as today's court ruling shows. I am calling on every outstanding ticket he has written to be dismissed, just as mine was.”

In the month since Halloran stood up to Agent Chu, dozens of neighborhood residents have come forward with horror stories about the rogue agent – ranging from boxing in cars until the meter expired to ticketing mourners outside a funeral home.

“Overticketing has been a scourge of New York City neighborhoods for years now,” said Halloran. “It is an obnoxious and irresponsible way to raise money for the City. Ticket agents are here to make our streets safer, not to raise money or to abuse the taxpayers who pay their salaries. I am introducing City Council legislation that will require a five-minute grace period for double parking, and I am looking for other ways to protect the rights of New York City drivers and end the reign of ticketing terror.”

15 comments:

Babs said...

HORAAAAAYYYY for Halloran!!!

Anonymous said...

Nice work Dan!

Anonymous said...

finally, some common sense

Anonymous said...

how does this agent still have a job?


Union labor is a disgrace.

jskingston said...

Excellent job, Councilman...we need more like you.

Anonymous said...

So I wait for a spot as a woman is pulling out of one in Astoria. A Ticket agent proceeds to scan my registration and give me a ticket. The woman gives me her name and cell number, I fight the ticket givin them her information. Outcome? Pay $115 you pee on citizen.

Good to be a Councilman I guess

Anonymous said...

Dan the Man!

I couldn't imagine Kevin Kim standing up to anyone.

Anonymous said...

beating parking tickets is easier than one might think. it just takes time and effort, which, admittedly, most regular people don't have.

JO said...

who would take off from work to fight a ticket?? There needs to be systematic change. At least Halloran did this little bit. What good will it do me though?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous#4: Cut a 1 inch piece of the barcode out of your reg stiker. Then re-insert upside down and secure it with clear tape................. be neat.

Whitestone local said...

Granted, this Chu dude seemed like he went off the deep end with all this ticket nonsense, but it's good to have a police presence in Whitestone. Way too many jerk offs speeding around Whitestone in their Mercedes, BMW's, Lexus', etc. with no regard for speed or traffic signs/lights. Just cause Whitestone is rural and quiet doesn't mean the streets should be like the Daytona 500, nor should these big shots think they can park wherever they want just cause their car is $50k+

Anonymous said...

dan got the dept.of education to unlock the gates to the newly renovated play ground in Bayside at P.S. 159.

they were locked 24/7 ,so no teens could play basketball on the new glass backboards.

the teens still need the north court to be converted to a full court. the newly planted tree blocking this space has died and should be removed. a small portion of the astroturf should be moved so full court ball can be played.

it would be the only full court with glass backboards in queens,i believe?

Anonymous said...

are there any public servant more contemptible than these guys? i still cant wrap my head around the fact we PAY their salaries and they exist only to bang us with frivolous tickets. one friend has had nothing but misery from these guys- double parked, car on, waiting for his wife, and he sees someone HIDING behind a tree, but he thinks nothing of it. then a minute later he sees the guy trotting, not walking, over to his car with the ticket. he was writing up him from behind the tree.

Anonymous said...

I hear Halloran sacrificed an animal to get out of this ticket

Anonymous said...

Good old Halloran from the days of Karaoke on Bell ,cheating, high priest in his pagan religion ... he fought a parking ticket and did some good pr work.. doesnt mean that he is a great guy, people.