Drivers who thought Friday was a parking holiday woke up to tickets by traffic agents working under quotas — and with full knowledge that parking regulations are confusing travelers, an NYPD traffic-enforcement agent told the Post.
“Some supervisors do give [quotas]. For those who do have them, they will meet their quotas in no time at all . . . This is our busiest day,” crowed the traffic agent, who was working Friday on the Upper East Side.
“Residents think alternate-side parking is suspended. It’s not. And lots of tourists are driving in to shop . . . They think this is a weekend. There will be a lot of tickets given today.”
Hungover and pie-stuffed New Yorkers found nasty surprises.
“I thought since yesterday was Thanksgiving, a national holiday, I thought it was OK to park,” wailed pharmacy technician Cladine Jean, 29, who found a $45 ticket on her white Nissan after she parked near the Navy Yard in Brooklyn.
“I hate New York because of things like this. I mean, come on, this is Thanksgiving. They should extend [the parking rules] through the holiday weekend.”
Jean’s friend Niyia Brewington, 28. agreed, arguing the city should post signs notifying drivers that Friday wasn’t a holiday.
“This is just another way New York sucks the money out of your pocket,” said Brewington.
Other city drivers shared Jean’s anger, while helpful New Yorkers tried to spread word of the danger.
“Thought today was Saturday & got a $65 parking ticket overnight. F–k you, NYC,” tweeted a real-estate salesman.
“A friendly reminder to all of those visiting NYC: Don’t get a ticket! All of the parking and meter rules are in effect on Friday, 11/29,” tweeted mohel Phil Sherman.
“The city is going to make a lot of money today,” said the traffic agent who described the ticket quota system to the Post.
The NYPD has denied agents are given quotas.
“Tickets are issued based on what traffic agents observe. The number of parking tickets has consistently gone down over the last five years,” said NYPD spokesman John McCarthy. “Ideally, no one would break the law and there would be no violations or summonses.”
Additional reporting by Kirstan Conley