A photograph Ned posted two days ago, showing a silver minivan and a sedan in a strange perpendicular accident, prompted me to post this even stranger photo of a minivan parked in the middle of the street. Although the minivan was not involved in an accident, there were a few near misses as visibly confused drivers passed by doing double takes.
This Honda Odyssey minivan was seen at the intersection of East 12th Street and Sheepshead Bay Road on Monday night. It was parked many feet away from the “curb.” The word curb is placed into quotation marks because it’s more of a turn at the concrete.
The minivan, parked less than a block away from the 61st Precinct building, where Sheepshead Bay Road meets East 12th Street, did not appear disabled or left for a few minutes. Instead, it seemed parked for good and did not have any emergency placard displayed or flashers blinking.
When I contacted 911 (after 311 directed me there), it took a while for them to find it on the map. I later looked it up myself in Google, and after some struggle, found this:
Lo and behold, the Google Maps Street View shows what looks like the same minivan and another car parked in the exact location. There is also a jeep parked at the curb nearby, where there is a hydrant (similar to what was observed this past week).
Apparently, this is a spot where parking is at a free-for-all. Are there any of you out there in need of a parking spot and never want to worry about a ticket? We seem to have hit on a jackpot. Not even a 911 call will get you in trouble for parking here.
Even without the threat of a ticket, would any of you leave your vehicle so vulnerable in the street?
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I’m 99% sure these cars belong to police at the 61st. They park however they like behind the precinct – blocking pumps and parking two (I’ve even seen three at this spot) deep. It’s dangerous, and the ones that block the pump put the residents of those houses at risk. They’ve been doing it for years – when I was in high school I walked up this block almost every day and cars were always lined up like this. I can’t say for sure if it’s the police or not, but would “civilians” really be able to get away with this for so long?
Neck Road is always blocked between East 12th Street and Coney Island Avenue, and like Ned pointed out, it always has been. They can do this because it’s not a much traveled part of Neck Road. Neck Road is cut off by Ocean Parkway in one direction, and at the location we are looking at, turns down Sheepshead Bay Road for about 150 feet before resuming.
So hardly anyone complains.
I don’t know about ” leaving your vehicle so vulnerable in the street” but I commend you on your investigative work.
must be a cop’s car
Looks like there’s plenty of room. Sheepsheadbites, please stop attacking cops!
hahaha jackpot indeed! That’s too funny.
Umm.. when have we attacked cops?
Yep, Bingo.
Nearly all the cars parked on Ave W between Sheepshead Bay Road and Coney Island Ave, and Neck Road where it merges with East 12th are owned by Police.
Some are personal vehicles, some are undercover or unmarked police vehicles but they all park there however they wish. I think the people that live in the private houses behind the precinct have some sort of agreement that they can park that way too in order not to cause a fuss with the city.
Sheepshead Bites has never attacked the cops, but I’ll tell you my personal opinion that cops in nearly all precincts abuse their power. They run red lights to get food, they go the wrong way down one way streets, and they use Prospect Park as their own personal highway when it’s closed.
Ned, Sheepshead bites never has. Areas by precincts have always been self enforced. Same as fire houses. No person living near a precinct will ever complain about safety and thats not from fear of retaliation but a feeling of security.
And just like any other business or department there are those few bad apples.
The Post office abuses it’s parking spaces.
Court officials downtown have a field day.
I do have complaints within my precinct but how they park does not affect me.
COPS = SWINE that’s my opinion about pigs
Just because an area does not have traffic does not mean there is absolutely no traffic at all. Someone driving by can still be distracted by the illegally parked cars and accidents could still happen. Sometimes i wonder if cops are really out to help people or themselves. fuck them.
no one ever saw two police cars parked side by side blocking two lanes while the occupants chat over coffees?
many many years ago there was a young group of poets that had a very interesting view of the police. i think they were wise beyond their years. i found them on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiX7GTelTPM
Police officers do deserve certain privileges than some of us. After all, they are truly working hard to protect New York City. Still, parking in the street like this is very confusing for drivers. It might be a good idea for more law enforcement workers to take mass transportation into work.
Agreed. Free coffee and donuts. Free parking WITHIN REASON. Hell, even a street walker or two. But really, a lot of the perks they are getting is a bit out of line.
Those who are supposed to enforce the law better set an example, hence no certain priveleges. No one is gonna argue that the cops do work hard in 98% of the time, and they do put their life in danger. However, we are all supposed to obey the law, especially those who are paid to enforce it