NEW YORK, NY September 29, 2006 —A new analysis of City parking permits concludes that over 3/4 of permit holders surveyed abused the privilege.

The environmental advocacy group Transportation Alternatives says its city-wide survey documented that permit holders parked illegally on sidewalks, blocked fire hydrants, cross walks, bus stops and metered spaces. The group contends that the abuses deprive local residents and businesses of parking and worsen traffic congestion.

Transportation Alternatives says the NYPD was the worst abuser accounting for 46 percent of the illegally parked vehicles they identified. The group said it focused on nine well-known parking trouble spots near federal, state and city government offices.

A spokesman for the NYPD said the group's analysis was flawed because it only looked at known trouble spots but added that the NYPD will ticket permit holders for parking illegally.