Disgruntled Driver Adorns NYC Sanitation Vehicle with 'Shame Sticker'

A New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) vehicle was found with a "shame sticker" affixed to its window, an apparent act of protest by a disgruntled car owner. The incident occurred on a sidewalk where the DSNY vehicle was parked, according to an image posted on X by Catherina Gioino, a news editor for Fortune.

A DSNY spokesperson stated that the sticker was not placed by a city employee, but rather appears to be one removed from a private vehicle by its owner and then applied to the sanitation truck. "It appears to be a case of a disgruntled car owner peeling off their own sticker and putting it on a DSNY vehicle," the spokesperson told The Post.

New York City began implementing the large, neon-green "shame stickers" in August. These stickers are intended to flag vehicles that repeatedly violate alternate side parking rules, a practice that was reinstated after a decade-long ban was repealed. The stickers themselves read, "THIS VEHICLE VIOLATED NYC STREET CLEANING RULES, AS A RESULT, THIS STREET COULD NOT BE PROPERLY CLEANED."

The use of these stickers has drawn criticism from some New Yorkers and lawmakers, who have raised concerns about vandalism and the difficulty of removing the adhesive. The DSNY advises vehicle owners to use warm water and a scraper to remove the placards.

"We remind all car owners that these stickers are a tool to encourage people to move their cars in accordance with the law so that our street sweepers can deliver the clean curblines that all New Yorkers deserve," the DSNY spokesperson added. The department has expressed hope that state legislation will be passed to allow for automated camera enforcement, which would reduce the need for physical stickers.

Assembly Member Steven Raga and State Sen. Julia Salazar have sponsored a bill that would permit the use of automated cameras for parking violations, similar to how cameras are used on MTA buses to enforce bus lane and bus stop regulations.