thedrifter
02-02-07, 08:57 AM
Marines owe White Plains more; call in the Corps of Engineers
By RICHARD LIEBSON
THE JOURNAL NEWS
The Army Corps of Engineers has been called in to handle the flood of unpaid parking tickets generated by U.S. Marine Corps recruiters in White Plains.
"They have met with city officials and received a list of the tickets,'' said Marine Corps Sgt. Michael D. Darbouze, marketing and public affairs officer for Recruiting Station Albany. "They are studying the list and will meet with White Plains parking officials again to hopefully make a final determination on how to resolve this matter.''
The negotiations come after The Journal News reported in December that Marine recruiters were the biggest scofflaws, racking up $84,250 in unpaid parking fines on 1,693 tickets.
White Plains Parking Commissioner Albert Moroni said yesterday that further investigation has revealed that the Marines actually owe $140,000 in fines on more than 2,000 tickets.
Vehicles with diplomatic plates were next on the list, owing $5,910 in parking fines, followed by U.S. Army recruiters, who owe $3,575 in fines. The city defines scofflaws as vehicle owners who receive three tickets in 18 months and fail to pay the fines.
Moroni, who described himself as a "reluctant warrior,'' said the city will boot or tow Marine Corps vehicles found in violation of parking regulations until the fines have been paid.
"There's no truce, but there are peace talks,'' Moroni said. "The Marines' vehicles remain on our scofflaw hot list and will be booted or towed until this is cleared up.''
He said the parking department has sent several notices to the U.S. Army, "but their brass hasn't responded.'' He said Army vehicles are also being booted and towed. Recruiters did not respond yesterday to requests for comment yesterday.
Moroni said the Army Corps of Engineers is negotiating for Marines but not the Army.
"I hope the Marines and the Army are taking this seriously, because we certainly are,'' he said.
Darbouze said the Marines "are definitely taking this seriously." Any surge in booting and towing, he said, "would have an impact on our recruitment effort.''
Army Corps officials could not be reached for comment.
The Marines have four vehicles for recruiters in the area and pay for permit parking at the Chester municipal garage about a block from the Post Road recruiting station.
"The word has been passed on to our recruiters to use the permit spaces and put money in the meters when they park in other areas of the city,'' Darbouze said.
Ellie
By RICHARD LIEBSON
THE JOURNAL NEWS
The Army Corps of Engineers has been called in to handle the flood of unpaid parking tickets generated by U.S. Marine Corps recruiters in White Plains.
"They have met with city officials and received a list of the tickets,'' said Marine Corps Sgt. Michael D. Darbouze, marketing and public affairs officer for Recruiting Station Albany. "They are studying the list and will meet with White Plains parking officials again to hopefully make a final determination on how to resolve this matter.''
The negotiations come after The Journal News reported in December that Marine recruiters were the biggest scofflaws, racking up $84,250 in unpaid parking fines on 1,693 tickets.
White Plains Parking Commissioner Albert Moroni said yesterday that further investigation has revealed that the Marines actually owe $140,000 in fines on more than 2,000 tickets.
Vehicles with diplomatic plates were next on the list, owing $5,910 in parking fines, followed by U.S. Army recruiters, who owe $3,575 in fines. The city defines scofflaws as vehicle owners who receive three tickets in 18 months and fail to pay the fines.
Moroni, who described himself as a "reluctant warrior,'' said the city will boot or tow Marine Corps vehicles found in violation of parking regulations until the fines have been paid.
"There's no truce, but there are peace talks,'' Moroni said. "The Marines' vehicles remain on our scofflaw hot list and will be booted or towed until this is cleared up.''
He said the parking department has sent several notices to the U.S. Army, "but their brass hasn't responded.'' He said Army vehicles are also being booted and towed. Recruiters did not respond yesterday to requests for comment yesterday.
Moroni said the Army Corps of Engineers is negotiating for Marines but not the Army.
"I hope the Marines and the Army are taking this seriously, because we certainly are,'' he said.
Darbouze said the Marines "are definitely taking this seriously." Any surge in booting and towing, he said, "would have an impact on our recruitment effort.''
Army Corps officials could not be reached for comment.
The Marines have four vehicles for recruiters in the area and pay for permit parking at the Chester municipal garage about a block from the Post Road recruiting station.
"The word has been passed on to our recruiters to use the permit spaces and put money in the meters when they park in other areas of the city,'' Darbouze said.
Ellie