Elif Ensari on Illegal Parking Complaints in NYC

Our recent study puts numbers behind this daily disorder. In the first systematic analysis of how the NYPD handles illegal parking complaints, we uncovered a troubling pattern: Enforcement is sparse, and complaints are often dismissed with impossible speed, all at a time when data shows citizens are increasingly concerned about the issue....

There are several immediate fixes to increase accountability and enforcement. A simple technological fix could require police officers to register a GPS location and provide photo evidence when responding to these complaints, with this information made publicly available along with existing 311 records. Additionally, parking tickets issued in response to a 311 complaint should include information that allows them to be linked to a complaint. Lastly, the responsibility of responding to illegal parking complaints should be transferred to traffic enforcement officers, rather than police on patrol.