Street Sweeper Cameras Could Be Coming to NYC

By Y.M. Lowy

New York City may soon start using cameras on street sweepers to catch drivers who don’t move their cars during alternate-side parking hours. The plan will crack down on repeat offenders. According to city data, 7% of vehicles were responsible for 30% of alternate-side parking tickets last year.

“Too many selfish people view the chance of a $65 ticket as just the cost of parking in the city, without regard for the fact that it also costs us something far more valuable, the dignity of our neighborhoods,” said acting Sanitation Commissioner Javier Lojan. Brooklyn Council Member Lincoln Restler called the bill common sense, saying it would mean fewer rats and a better quality of life.

Still, some residents worry that the plan is more about making money than cleanliness. But the bill has a long way to go, as it's still in committee in both the state Senate and Assembly.