POLS: PLACARD PUKES BEWARE!
THE CITY COUNCIL is looking to crack down on rampant abuse of parking placards with a set of new bills. The legislation would jack up the fines for people who use bogus placards, and create penalties for city workers with legitimate placards who misuse them. The city has handed out a whopping 160,000 parking placards, to teachers, cops, Department of Transportation workers and others. Many drivers still use fake placards — and manage to avoid tickets. Meanwhile, drivers with legit placards park where they’re not supposed to — on the sidewalk or blocking crosswalks. Placard ho lders are only supposed to use them while on official business. Under the proposed legislation, which will be introduced next week, the minimum fine for using a bogus or unauthorized placard would double from $250 to $500. Another bill would require the city to yank a real placard if it is used inappropriately three times in a year.