Scott Murphy

@scottfmurphy

It’s Tuesday morning, around 11:50am, and an exciting dance is about to begin. I call it the Bushwick slalom. Right about this time, everyone who’s parked on my block hops into their cars and moves them to the opposite side of the street — double parking along the entire length of the block. Unfortunate car owners who forgot about the city-enforced deadline are exposed and sometimes, during this 90 minute period, a fancy Allianz 4000 Hybrid Electric street sweeper comes whizzing through, spraying its water, and scrubbing the pavement with its brushes, leaving behind something of a cleaner street.

Does the street always get cleaned at this time? No. But you know who always comes through? Someone to write parking tickets to those drivers still parked on the wrong side of the street.

Let’s say you’re one of the sad people who forget to move their cars: you’re almost guaranteed a $65 alternate side parking violation. Then, let’s say you’re really unlucky and forget to move your car the following week and the city tows it. That’s another $185 fine, plus a $20-per day storage fee. All-in, you owe at least $270 just to get your car back.