New York City parkingThe New York Police Department will begin a crackdown on city-issued parking placard abusers today.

“Due to new laws passed by the city council on placard abuse, multiple units are tasked to enforce and document the abusers by taking photos of cars, plates and placards to record and submit to [the Department of Investigation],” said an email to police officers yesterday. It said the effort will begin today, with violators receiving multiple tickets–one for parking illegally and one for misusing the placards.

Critics say police officers and others with placards that allow them to park almost anywhere abuse the system, using their credentials to park when off-duty or to get spaces closer to their homes. Officers were warned about the crackdown and encouraged to “be safe” in the email.

Read the whole story here.