FDNY: Hydrant Blockers Receiving Criminal Summonses Not Tickets

Media campaigns haven't worked. Traffic tickets haven't worked either.

Now, the FDNY hopes criminal summonses will make drivers think twice about parking in front of a fire hydrant.

"I don't know if it's a sense of entitlement or selfishness," FDNY Chief of Fire Operations Kevin Woods told abc7. 

Last February, firefighters found a blocked hydrant in front of a Buddhist Temple in the Bronx. Two people died.

"It comes down to every second counts." 

Shortly thereafter, traffic tickets for parking at hydrants were replaced by criminal citations.

"They have to go to criminal court in front of a judge and the judge will give the judgement," Chief Woods said.

They've issued 10 summonses so far with fines ranging from $2,500 to $4,000 each.

"We're hoping the punishment will help reduce the behavior."