Precedent Undone: Pedestrians Not Vehicles

To update our lead story from yesterday, the two men ticketed for literally standing in a “No Standing” zone have had their summonses summarily dismissed:

Two men slapped with $50 tickets for simply standing in a fire zone in a city park were let off the hook yesterday shortly after Mayor Bloomberg scoffed at the silly summonses.

“It boggles the mind,” the mayor said, laughing as he responded to a Daily News story yesterday about the tickets given out to the pedestrians Sunday at Hudson River Park.

“I’ll talk to the Parks Department,” he added. “Let’s say the matter is under investigation.”

A short time after the mayor spoke, the Parks Department – which initially defended the tickets – said the fines had been dismissed.

And the toughest job in the world today — although not as tough as the one he faced yesterday — is being the person who has to back down from such idiocy:

Parks officials said Tuesday that the signs didn’t refer to cars – as is commonly the case around the city. Yesterday, they did a sharp reversal.

“The section of Hudson River Park where the incident occurred is designed for public use, and the summonses were issued inappropriately,” said Parks spokesman Warner Johnston. “The initial report that the ‘No Standing’ signs were for pedestrians was incorrect.”

Glad we got that one straightened out!