NYPD tow truck (NYPD via Twitter)
Oct. 29, 2021 By Allie Griffin
Council Member Robert Holden has called on the NYPD to become more proactive in towing illegally parked cars in western Queens.
Holden penned a letter to Police Commissioner Dermot Shea Thursday demanding that the NYPD step up its enforcement in his district that covers Glendale, Maspeth, Middle Village, Ridgewood and parts of Woodside. He said that the NYPD has been more aggressive in towing violators in other districts.
The three precincts in his district — the 102nd, the 104th and the 108th — towed a combined total of 177 vehicles last year, while the neighboring 110th precinct towed 555 cars alone last year, according to data provided by Holden’s office.
The numbers in his council district were the lowest across the city, Holden said.
“I write to you with great frustration over the disparate number of illegally parked cars the precincts in my district have towed, relative to neighboring precincts,” he wrote to Shea. “My staff and I frequently receive complaints from constituents about illegally parked and abandoned vehicles and it has been very difficult to have them removed.”
“Unfortunately, these numbers did not come as a surprise,” he wrote. “It is very difficult to get my local precincts to tow vehicles.”
The council member added that the illegally-parked cars have become a safety issue.
“Many vehicles are blocking fire hydrants, bus lanes, bike lanes, sidewalks and crosswalks and pose a safety risk, especially if a hydrant prevents firefighters from doing their job when seconds count.”
