Handicapped parking spot not well-marked

I park my car in an unrestricted parking lot (M-10) at the Massapequa LIRR station and take the 5 a.m. train to work. Recently, the first space next to the curb was empty, so I pulled in. When I returned, there was a ticket on my windshield for parking in a handicapped spot, which carries a $305 penalty. The space has a white line like regular parking spaces, and there's no sign indicating it's for the handicapped. After I got the ticket, I inspected the spot and saw there was a very faint handicapped symbol painted on the asphalt that is not visible when it's still pitch black outside at 5 a.m. I think this is a "bait spot," meant to generate revenue. Now I have to lose a day's pay to fight this in traffic court. It's so unfair and should be fixed so commuters aren't trapped into getting a ticket.-Joseph Bowler, North Massapequa

At 5 a.m., we probably would have made the same mistake as Mr. Bowler. Two of the five handicapped spots there have easy-to-see signs, but the space where he got the ticket didn't -- and the blue wheelchair symbol was very faded. The five handicapped spaces there seem unusual because they're the width of standard parking stalls, not the oversized spaces that are more typical in parking lots. We contacted Town of Oyster Bay spokeswoman Marta Kane and she emailed us the town code for handicapped parking stalls. In part, it states: "Parking spaces for the handicapped shall be at least eight feet in width and shall have an adjacent access aisle at least eight feet in width, or as otherwise required by the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code." It also states, "Such spaces shall be appropriately located and clearly identified and limited in their use by appropriate signage and pavement markings." Two days after we contacted her, Kane emailed us to say the town's "highway crew went out to inspect it yesterday and repaired the broken/missing posts and affixed new signs. We see that the lines are faded and should have that remedied early next week, depending upon how much storm damage [from tropical storm Irene] we are facing."

Mr. Bowler's traffic court date is scheduled for Friday. We'll let you know what happens.

In 2005, a telephone pole on Meadowbrook Road in Merrick was damaged. After repairs were made, a Verizon utility box was left dangling in midair and a yellow rope was used to hold up a Cablevision cable. I have made several calls to both companies for two years, but nothing happened. I have given up hope.--Paul DeMaria, Merrick

We hope your hope's been restored, Mr. DeMaria. Verizon sent workers to secure the box last month shortly after we called (before Tropical Storm Irene hit). Spokesman John Bonomo said Verizon had no record of notification about the problem, which was why it hadn't been repaired earlier.

Shortly after, Cablevision workers removed the rope and fixed its cables. Spokesman Jim Maiella said another utility had tied the cables with rope. Cablevision (which owns Newsday), also had no records of prior complaints, he said.

Anyone with Verizon problems can call 1-800-VERIZON. Cablevision's service number for the Town of Hempstead, North Hempstead, Oyster Bay and Huntington is 516-364-8400. For other Suffolk towns, call 631-267-6900 or 631-727-6300.

-MICHAEL R. EBERTWestbound cars exit the Southern State Parkway at Exit 24N in North Merrick and sometimes cut across two lanes of traffic and solid white lines to enter the left-turn lane for Jerusalem Avenue. We were almost in an accident when a truck crossed into oncoming traffic to avoid a car trying to cut across. This is a real safety concern.-- Roy Grillo, Merrick

Note to drivers exiting the parkway: Crossing the solid white lines that separate lanes at the traffic signal is illegal, according to police. And if you're caught, you could get a ticket, Nassau police spokesman Det. Lt. Kevin Smith said. The only time you can cross solid white lines on the road is if you have a vehicle emergency and need to move to the shoulder.

Police acknowledge that the situation at Exit 24N is unlikely to improve without a traffic enforcement detail at that spot, but they're hesitant to do that because it would create a hazard by impeding traffic flow at a busy section of Merrick Avenue, Smith said.

"Unfortunately, at times, drivers take risks, are afraid to miss their turn, or are otherwise oblivious to the fact that they are holding up traffic or creating a hazard," he said.

Nassau County's Department of Public Works spokesman Michael Martino said the road is marked properly and the safer alternative in this case would be for drivers on Southern State who want to head west on Jerusalem Avenue to exit at Meadowbrook Road, which will also get you there.

First Precinct residents with enforcement concerns should call 516-573-6100.

-MICHAEL R. EBERT