At least 160 drivers – who together owed millions of dollars in violations – had their vehicles towed in Brooklyn during a Vision Zero crackdown on Feb. 28, according to deputies from the city’s Sheriff’s Office. The vehicles, including some NYC Taxi & Limousine-licensed cars and dollar vans, were brought to Grand Army Plaza before being taken to the pound. More than 100 deputies and workers from a private license plate scanning company swept Brooklyn streets between noon and 8:30pm.
The crackdown targeted vehicles owing at least $2,500 in parking and moving violations, but many had much larger debts. Vehicle owners had to pay the fines to get their vehicles back. A Sheriff’s deputy estimated about $19 million in fines owed on Pennsylvania plates and $2 million from Texas plates. Another deputy said they were specifically searching for habitual speed camera and red-light camera violators.
The sting focused on arteries like Flatbush, Utica and Church avenues. The Sheriff’s Office conducts similar sweeps every 45 days or so, according to deputies. A license plate recognition system reads plates and lets sheriffs know who to tow.
Source: New York Post
