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.”