SNAP’ JUDGMENTS: Public policing via phone cams has uncovered a dog at the Greenwich Village D’Agostino (above), a cigar sold to a minor in Little Italy (inset top) and an illegal rooster in Brooklyn (inset bottom). (
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Smile, you’re on candid camera — everywhere.
When you’re not being videotaped by security cameras and spied on by license-plate readers, you’re being watched by fellow New Yorkers and their camera phones.
In 2008, the 311 complaint hot line introduced a program that allows people to submit photos, audio and video with their grievances. Though only about 100 were submitted the first year, it has skyrocketed to more than 8,000 iPhone-aided complaints in the last 15 months.
From dogs in the deli to roosters in the yard, to bugs in the food — someone is always watching.
“The proliferation of smartphones helps,” said 311 director Joe Morrisroe. “For the customer, the picture is better than words . . . They have presumed evidence that shows something is out of line.”
Most cutting candids reviewed by The Post went to the departments of Health and Transportation and the Taxi and Limousine Commission.
The city received 196 photos against food establishments and 468 pictures attached to consumer complaints — from ruined laundry at an Upper East Side dry cleaners to “mandatory tips” at an upscale Midtown sushi joint.
One tipster submitted three photos of a suited man at Florio’s Ristorante in Little Italy on Feb. 12, alleging he sold cigars to minors. (The restaurant has a cigar shop at the front.)
Owner Anthony Coppola didn’t respond to messages left by The Post.
One citizen spy claimed to snap a woman and her pooch in a D’Agostino grocery in Greenwich Village on Dec. 30. The image shows a small dog trailing its owner near meat and baguettes.
The D’Agostino chain did not return messages left by The Post.
Another fed-up patron revealed what looked like a maggot in a rice dish last summer, claiming the foul meal came from Midtown’s Szechuan Gourmet.
Szechuan manager Cindy Yue said she was shocked to hear of the slimy snapshot.
“This isn’t good for small business,” Yue said. “If customers don’t complain and just report stuff to the government, I don’t think restaurants would survive.”
A Health Department inspection into that allegedly funky food is currently listed as “past due,” according to the online 311 complaint status.
Even the peskiest offenses were sent to authorities.
At least 25 people took photos of pigeon poop and 40 snapped other animal droppings, prompting the Health Department to conduct follow-up inspections.
Disgruntled neighbors photographed at least 19 “illegal animals,” including one ferret and at least five roosters.
Cellphone spies submitted 1,363 taxi complaints, with some photos of medallions resulting in guilty pleas from drivers. About 1,873 passengers submitted images of belongings left behind in cabs.
Two people submitted close-up photos of tattoo artists in The Bronx and Brooklyn, claiming their facilities and equipment were filthy.
Meanwhile, the DOT was inundated with 1,388 pictures of street and sidewalk conditions; 421 missing, damaged or dangling street signs; and 140 bus-shelter complaints.