Corona Man Took Cash From Scofflaw
A private parking enforcement agent from Corona was arrested last week on charges that he allegedly asked for and received a bribe from a scofflaw in exchange for not immobilizing the scofflaw’s vehicle with an electromechanical boot, authorities announced.
The Department of Investigation (DOI) identified the agent as Carlos Garcia, 42, of Waldron Street, who was employed by PayLock IPT LLC, a private company contracted by the City Deputy Sheriffs and the Department of Finance to identify vehicles connected to unpaid parking tickets and other fines.
Garcia was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court last Wednesday, Feb. 13, before Judge John Zoll on charges of commercial bribe receiving in the second degree and a misdemeanor charge of petit larceny. He was released on his own recognizance and scheduled to return to court on Jan. 15.
He faces up to a year in prison if convicted.
“City motorists interested in clearing their fines should not be asked to provide cash to a private contractor’s field agent,” said DOI Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn in announcing the arrest last Wednesday. “The city has no tolerance for individuals who shake down citizens trying to resolve unpaid tickets.”
Reportedly, the DOI launched an investigation which led to Garcia’s arrest in late January after receiving information that a cash payment had been made by a customer to a Pay- Lock field agent.
According to the criminal complaint, on Jan. 24 at around 2:45 p.m., Garcia-who was not authorized to accept cash from the public as payment for parking fines-was scanning various license plates of vehicles parked on Roosevelt Avenue in checking for scofflaws.
Reportedly, Garcia saw a female motorist at a car identified in the scan as having outstanding fines and approached the motorist. It is alleged that Garcia told the motorist that he could place a boot on her car. When the motorist asked for additional information, Garcia reportedly asked if she had money.
After informing Garcia that she had $100, the agent allegedly told her that she could pay him that sum, and then had 10 days to pay the remaining balance of the fines. Reportedly, the female motorist gave Garcia the $100; in return, the agent did not put a boot on the vehicle.
Booting is a parking enforcement tool operated by PayLock in partnership with the City Sheriff’s office. An individual can be booted for owing the city more than $350 in parking, red light camera or bus lane violation tickets which are in judgment. Pay- Lock has contracted with the Department of Finance to operate the booting program, and its agents patrol the streets with license plate recognition technology, matching plates with a database that indicates which vehicles are boot eligible.
When a match is determined, it alerts a city deputy sheriff, who then determines if the vehicle can be booted. Payment to remove a boot is made with a debit or credit card, or by electronic check.
Cash, money orders or cashier’s checks are only accepted at Department of Finance Business Centers.
As a result of the investigation, Garcia was also terminated from his position at PayLock.
Hearn thanked Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown, Finance Commissioner David M. Frankel, City Sheriff Edgar A. Domenech and their staffs and PayLock for their assistance and cooperation in the probe.
The investigation was conducted by the DOI’s Squad of NYPD detectives.
It was noted that a criminal complaint is an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
