GRIDLOCK SAM
FRIDAY, MARCH 27 - SUNDAY, MARCH 29
ALTERNATE SIDE PARKING RULES ARE IN EFFECT FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
Traffic will be slow going with residual delays on Second Ave. in the East Village following Thursday’s building explosion on Second Ave. and Seventh St. Expect traffic diversions primarily to Third Ave. and Avenue A. Crosstown streets between First and Third Aves., from 10th St. to Fifth St. may also be affected. All Manhattan-bound lanes of the
Brooklyn Bridge will close midnight Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday. Use the Manhattan or Williamsburg bridges or the Battery Tunnel instead.
The Bayonne Bridge will be completely closed in both directions around-theclock 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. Use the Goethals Bridge as an alternative, but expect some slowdowns there, too, Friday night — one Staten Island-bound lane will be closed midnight Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday.
A parade in Manhattan will cause rolling closures on the following streets between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday: 63rd through 66th Sts. between Fifth and Park Aves., Fifth Ave. between 63rd and 79th Sts., and 79th St. between Fifth and Third Aves.
From the mailbag:
Dear Gridlock Sam , I recently parked my car on 36th St. in Sunset Park. The owner of an adjacent car wash claims I was blocking his driveway and had me ticketed and towed.
I have pictures that show I was not blocking the driveway. He claims the whole curb in front of the building is part of his driveway as he spray paints it yellow.
There are no “No Parking” signs other than alternate side. Google Maps clearly shows the legal parking spot in front of the building spray painted by the owner.
Can I beat this ticket? Is the owner allowed to paint the curb?
Sal, Brooklyn
Dear Sal , You might be able to beat the ticket. At your hearing, show the photos you took and the Google Maps image.
The reason I say “might” is because your photos are not conclusive evidence that you were parked out of the way of the driveway. As for the yellow curb, paint has no regulatory power in NYC. If anything, the paint counts as a “display of (an) unauthorized marking,” per Statute 1114 of New York State’s Vehicle and Traffic Law. The city could remove the paint and stick the car wash owner with the bill.
Gridlock Sam