Illegally parked backhoe

Call 911.
The city wants that used for all crimes in progress, not just emergencies.

I know it goes against everything I was taught growing up,
but it's what the Philadelphia police have told me over and over.

By the time the 26th responds to that call, the construction will be complete! It is a pipe dream to think our precinct will even begin to care about this issue. They just don't care about quality of life issues at all. Let us know if you get any response at all. I'd love to be proven wrong regarding this!

911. No excuses. Just call. And call. And call.

Call 911 and tell them someone is breaking in to as you speak and remind them when they show up that it's illegal?

Or a note that says, "if this is parked here one more time I will have you towed."

Don't forget that filing a false police report is a crime. The right cop in the wrong mood will hang you out to dry for it.

Do not make a false police report, but do call at least 311. I don't know that they can really get a ticket. Is there even a license plate? I'd talk to neighbors to try to find out who it is, and if that's futile, you can leave a note and sign it with your first name. That way, if it's someone who knows you, they won't think you're being passive aggressive, but if it's a creep, they won't have your address and SSN or anything.

You could always slash its tires? That'll teach em.

Let's draft up a passive aggressive note for the backhoe's window, shall we? (These are jokes. Don't actually do this.)

Thank you for taking up three spaces with your illegally parked construction equipment so that my wife can get the exercise of walking four blocks to her parking space. Shes looking great for the new year's resolution. Four pounds so far. JERK.

Or

Park here again and you'll be sorry. -NRA member since 1986.

Or

OMG STOP PARKING YOUR STUPID TRACTOR HERE.

Lots of underlining helps. Really let them know who they're messing with. Actually, less joking, get some neighbors to help you disassemble it and scrap the metal piece by piece. That would inspire some Fishtown pride in all of us. I'd love you for it.

That made me maugh out lout Matt.

Is it just construction vehicles that are illegal or any commercial vehicle over a certain size?

i'm pretty sure it is owned/rented by the plumber on the corner of dauphin and cedar. hughes plumbing i think. every once in a while it's there. seems like they rent it when they need it and park it on the street a few days at a time.

TLDR - call the police to have it ticketed, or just ask them to not park it there.

yep, this is a favorite us construction move i gave up reporting it because it is left overnight then by the time anyone comes if at all it is in use. I have a bit more understanding for a local contractor who is doing this occasionally than a out of town construction company that constantly disrespects out neighborhood

They'll write a ticket if you call, as I understand it.

Hi everyone, this is Juliana from the City Howl Help Desk (which last chronicled the Gaul St sidewalk annexation). If you're curious, we ran a piece about the backhoe in yesterday's Daily News -- http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/city_howl/20120201_City_Howl_Help_Desk__TO_YOU_AND_THE_LAW_IT_S_A_TRUCK__BUT_TO_THE_CITY_IT_S_A_PASSED-BUCK.html

Long story short, you gotta call 911 for the backhoe. But if you're in a PPA zone, you're outta luck (they don't ticket backhoes but police do). It's weird. If you have any issues you'd like me to try to help with, let me know, PM works great or

Thanks for the article, Juliana.

Juliana:

Maybe the next article could be on short-dumping! Just look at Berks street between Richmond & Beach; the trash is piling up very fast. The street is very narrow and still cobble-stoned ( ) but the street, itself, is being squeezed smaller and smaller from all the trash.

The Sanitation Police are quick to come to our area, which includes Olde Richmond and Port Richmond, to hand out fines/tickets for putting your trash out too early; or, for being a good neighbor by sweeping the street and not wanting to lug bags of street trash to your yard. Or, what about keeping a little trash can next to the step for those who need to dispose of something. Why can't the sanitation police spend more time and energy going after the short-dumpers?