Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
DSCN4119.jpg

The sheer size of this vehicle, which I encountered while walking down Court Street in Brooklyn the other day, was what made me stop and take a picture. As you can see, the traffic enforcement officer's head basically just reaches the hood. (Makes you wonder what the driver's visibility is.)

Right, the traffic enforcement officer. I waited to watch her write a ticket for the vehicle, which had been left idling with no one behind the wheel, blocking a fire hydrant and parked a couple of feet out into the lane of travel (it's a sharrow lane to boot), while its owner apparently made a stop in the bodega.

DSCN4118.jpgBut she just kept walking.

"Aren't you going to write him a ticket?" I asked.

"Can't ticket a placard," she replied with a shrug.

I could barely see up onto the dashboard, but there was some kind of placard there. Then I noticed the letters "VAS" on the plates, which apparently stand for "Volunteer Ambulance Service."

You'd think a Volunteer Ambulance Service member would realize that leaving an unattended vehicle idling is unsafe. You'd think someone trained to save lives might think twice about it. You'd think.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Friday Video: This British Cyclist Has Gotten Thousands of Motorists Fined For Dangerous Driving

But is his project doing more harm or good — and would it fly in the U.S.?

January 31, 2025

How an Ex-Delivery Worker Upended NYC’s Streets

Ou Zhou, a former delivery worker who founded Fly E-Bike, has hit it big selling fast, low-cost electric bikes and mopeds to delivery workers, transforming New York City streets in the process. But with concerns growing about fires from lithium-ion bat...

January 31, 2025

Friday Video: How Great a City Can Be with Congestion Pricing

Cities with congestion pricing are great places to live, work, bike and walk. See why.

January 31, 2025

Friday’s Headlines Are Still Confused

Make America's Transportation Policy Make Sense Again.

January 31, 2025

Talking Headways Podcast: Not Eating Exhaust with Your Beer

Author Mike Eliason on single-stair buildings, development on arterials, building back after climate disasters and the problem with RFPs.

January 30, 2025
See all posts