Drivers who park in midtown bus stops learn quickly that the tow truck operators of Local 983 are on the job.

But in addition to this basic violation towing, they used to pull in another $20 million a year by hauling in motorists who refused to pay up on multiple tickets for sheriffs and marshals.

When the former administration moved the operation from the Dept.of Transportation to the Police Dept., it contracted out scofflaw towing to private trucks and butchered this cash cow.

"We were an elite group who did a professional job, but they took away all our power and responsibilities," said Marvin Smith, a 24-year Traffic Enforcement Agent Level 3. He said Level 3 and 4 TEAs once had Peace Officer status, which allowed them to issue summonses for traffic infractions and illegal construction zones, boot unregistered and uninsured cars and tow those with multiple violations to the nearest pound.

"If the city would crack down on scofflaws, it would reduce its liabilities and increase revenue. By hiring 100 more union tow truck operators who do five tows a day, the city could raise $20 million in revenue." — Mark Rosenthal DC 37 Treasurer

"We met our projections every time," Mr. Smith said of the system in the Dept. of Transportation. "Boot teams made a lot of money for the city, and the revenue helped fund public services."

The shift to the NYPD pushed 250 TEAs out of the driver's seat, put the brakes on a reliable moneymaking engine, and left traffic stalled on city streets.

DC 37 and Local 983 say the city can work smarter if it reinstates the TEAs' direct authority to go after scofflaws and drivers who double- and triple-park.

By using TEAs to direct traffic rather than catch scofflaws since 1996, the city has already junked over $50 million of potential revenue. Starting right now, hiring 100 more TEAs would bring in an additional $20 million in revenues every year, say experts.

"The city is paying twice," said Local 983's Walter Drummond. "It pays private tow truck contractors, which depletes the budget, and then there's us. Why not use city employees who can do the job and have a longstanding record of doing it well?"

— Diane S. Williams