Albany, NY – A select group of Albany and state officials ignored thousands of city parking tickets over the past five years because a secret “VIP” program allowed them to avoid any fines.
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The Times Union of Albany reviewed 5,000 tickets issued since 2003 to about 270 vehicles logged into police computers for special treatment. While most were owned by the city police department, the records obtained under the state Freedom of Information Law showed a number registered to city hall workers and state officials.
City lawyers told the newspaper there was no policy covering who was eligible for the list or how to issue the so-called “ghost” tickets.
Among state officials given the break was Thomas Natoli, director of state operations under Gov. George Pataki. Records show his state-owned Chevrolet Suburban was tagged with hundreds of the “no-fine” tickets between 2003 and 2006, most of them at expired meters on downtown streets. The newspaper was unable to reach Natoli for comment and a phone number could not be found.
The director of Albany’s Cyber Security office, William Pelgrin, got dozens of the tickets and Pamela Tobin, the director of the city’s Downtown Business Improvement District, was ticketed 196 times since 2003. A spokeswoman in Pelgrin’s office said he used a state-issued placard to avoid fines and was unaware his vehicle was on the city list. Tobin declined to discuss the tickets with the newspaper, but said in the past she pays her fines.
Police spokesman James Miller said the department’s own exempt ticket program was turned off and the city is coming up with a system of window placards to mark vehicles on official business.
They should have to take the bus and subway like every other citizen – let them see and feel what its like – and it will free up parking for people who need it.
Elitist bums.
that’s the way it should be officials should get a break
First of all, they don’t have a subway in Albany. The buses run, but not as frequent as NYC. Also, many state workers have access to the parking garages in downtown Albany. The other state buildings usually have parking lots. Generally Albany parking is only a problem during the weekdays in downtown locations. Most people working downtown do not park their cars on the streets. Even the workers for private companies park in the garages. The residential sections of Albany allow street parking 24/7, except during snow emergencies.
I read about this story a few days ago. The issue was about girlfriends and wives of poilice officers and other city and state officials using special window decals. Or for people to use personal vehicles.
In my opinion, state owned vehciles are not that big of a deal as long as the operator is on official business. It’s when it’s abused with your civilian car or the car of your spouse, girlfriend or mistress.
The goverment is the mafia with license, thay are aloud to do anything they want and we are not, why is Tim Geitner confirmed as tresury secretery? If some local guy just paid his taxes late he would get a panelty, and this bum didn’t pay his taxes for three years and he is the treasury secretery,
On a local level the cop is allowed to talk on a cell phone while driving, but u get a fine plus points for doing the same, or they are allowed to pass a red light to go Mc’donald for a burger….. But if the reguler guy past a yellow light that turned into red ur peanelized.
The bottom line is they are aloud to do anything they want and we are not…..
Bloomberg at work again.
Throw The Bum Out