By Carla Zanoni
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
INWOOD — Residents on West 218th Street are fuming over a group of livery car drivers who park on their street while waiting for pick-up assignments.
They acknowledge that they understand that the drivers have to make a living, but they're fed up with the noise, double-parking and parking in the bike lane on the street between Broadway and Park Terrace West.
"It doesn’t matter what time it is, they are always out here, screaming across the street to each other, blocking traffic, letting their cars idle and pump out fumes," Inwood resident Marla Vernin, 32, said. "I’ve had enough of their noisiness. It’s enough to make me want to move."
Several drivers for First Class Car and Limo and Seaman Radio Dispatcher who were parked on the street earlier this week said they moved to the block after receiving several citations for blocking bus stops, hydrants and traffic on busy Broadway nearby. They say they need to use the street because they get good reception their for their radio calls.
Neither First Class nor Seaman responded immediately to calls for comment. But drivers acknowledge that residents are upset.
"We knew this would be a problem," said one driver who asked not to be identified. "But we don’t know where else to go."
Complaints about livery cab drivers congregating in other residential areas in Inwood and Washington Heights have been broached during previous Community Board 12 economic development and public safety committee.
Community Board 12 serves an advisory role on issuing new and renewing car service licenses.
The Taxi and Limousine Commission did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
