Plaque buildup by ‘scofflaw’ doctors
Police orgs sell phony medical parking permits
New Yorkers are fuming over doctors who park at fire hydrants and other illegal spots while displaying dashboard placards marked boldly: “POLICE SURGEON.”
“This vehicle is on official medical business,” says the red-and-white placard with a caduceus, the healthcare symbol of two snakes winding around a winged rod.
It’s a scheme perpetuated, oddly enough, by law-enforcement groups.
The New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association issues the placards to any MD who forks over $400 a year for a “membership.” About 2,000 doctors statewide have joined, the PBA says.
The Post last week found a Mercedes with MD plates, a sporty BMW, and a Toyota SUV — using two trooper placards with different ID numbers — parked next to hydrants or otherwise illegally on 161st Street in Washington Heights near the Centro de la Salud medical clinic.
“He parks next to the fire hydrant almost every single day,” a resident said of a man identified as Gerardo Reyes. “It’s frustrating that he’s clearly not on duty as a police surgeon.”
The clinic is run by Dr. Konstantinos Zarkadas, an obesity specialist, who was on vacation last week. A clinic manager said Reyes is Zarkadas’ “driver.” She could not explain why Reyes parked by the hydrant while running errands, saying, “That’s out of my hands.”
The manager said Zarkadas owns one placard, but she wouldn’t say who holds the other. Zarkadas did not return calls.
Another resident said he has complained about the illegal parking for a year “and the police have done nothing.” After his six latest 311 calls, records show, cops issued one summons — and the abuses continue. The NYPD said it will investigate.
“This is what New Yorkers despise — it’s so unfair. We’re all out there looking for parking spaces, and these guys cheat,” the resident said.
As for those placards, he added: “Sign me up!”
In another case, a woman who lives on East 73rd Street said she has long complained about a Mercedes with a State Trooper PBA “police surgeon” placard that parks illegally in front of Casa de Montecristo by Cigar Inn, a smoking lounge.
Michele Crisafulli, a PBA spokeswoman in Albany, admitted the placards give no parking privileges whatsoever.
She said the back of the placard — which doesn’t show on the dashboard — states: “Warning: This is a non-governmental courtesy placard, which does not allow parking in restricted areas or no-parking zones.”
Crisafulli refused to send a photo of the warning.
At least two other groups issue physician placards for a price.
The New York State Police Investigators Association boasts 300 members in its “surgeons group.” It charges an initial fee of $400 and $275 a year to renew.
And the Amtrak Police Lodge #189 in Wappingers Falls charges MDs $300 to join and $175 annual dues. In 2014, US Attorney Preet Bharara charged the treasurer with stealing $100,000 in union funds.