Sunday, July 13, 2014

Howard Beach army truck mystery

From the Forum:

A large, camouflage military truck has been sitting vacant on 78th Street in Howard Beach for the past several months, leading residents to question why authorities have not stepped in to move it.

Joseph C. Thompson, president of the not-for-profit Civilian Observation Patrol in Howard Beach, said he is aware of the truck’s presence in the neighborhood and believes it was used to transport homeowners to safer ground during Hurricane Sandy. As for making a complaint, Thompson suggested that residents call the police or 311, but said as long as a vehicle has a valid license plate and registration, it can be parked idly without a problem unless alternate side parking rules are in effect for the area.

“If it doesn’t have plates, you have to call the police precinct or 311 to see if they can make a summons,” he said. “If there are enough summonses, the vehicle could be towed. Maybe [the owner] doesn’t have any place to park such a big vehicle.”

The community affairs department of the 106th Precinct did not return calls seeking comment and the owner of the truck could not be identified by press time.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Did Joe Thompson report it to the precinct or to 311? If yes, what was the response? If no, why not? If he's the eyes & ears, he should have a whole list of what he's reported and to whom he reported it besides a newspaper.

Anonymous said...

I thought a vehicle could not sit idle for a week, or is that only if it's in front of someone's house?

Queens Crapper said...

That is correct no matter where it is parked.

Anonymous said...

In the article a neighbor gets quoted as saying the area is overdeveloped and parking is hard to come by. Every house has a driveway, can hold at least one car, on average probably at least 2 counting the garage. How many cars do these people own?! There aren't any apartment blocks over there. How much of 'overdevelopment' is just that there isn't room for every single person to make every trip by car? I'm not saying some areas aren't lacking in infrastructure, but if you and everyone in your family wants to drive everywhere why come to NYC?!

Anthony Rea said...

Leave my illegal basement apartment residents alone!

Anonymous said...

Not for nothing look at the area behind and on sides of the truck. Is the truck really an eye sore? looks like a run down area and I would worry more about the property clean up around the licensed and registered truck!!! And for the loss of one parking spot. lol... I wouldn't park there, look at the unpaved road and rubble under the truck.. There must be something else to complain about!

Anonymous said...

It's a wetland.