Figueroa-Levin: 'Residents only' parking would prevent lots of dust-ups

Finding parking is hard in the city. Really hard. Unless you're paying out the nose for a parking space, you're doomed to drive around for hours -- while paying out the nose for gas.

That's why tempers flare during the hunt for a spot. And emotions run especially high if you feel someone stole the spot you sought for so long.

So what do you do when someone steals your spot? You could yell, or flip the bird as you continue driving away. Or, if you live where I do in Inwood, you might be tempted to grab your friends and start shooting at the guy. That's what one woman did earlier this week.

Please don't shoot anyone. Aside from being dangerous and illegal, it will get the police involved -- police who will arrive in cars and take up valuable parking real estate while they investigate and arrest people.

Sometimes I'm tempted to give up my car completely. Other times I'm tempted to channel my inner Robert Moses and pave over the local baseball field while nobody is looking, just so I can get a spot without driving around in a circle for an hour.

What we need is for a good chunk of the available parking spots to be resident only. The idea of paid parking permits for residents has been discussed by government officials before. It's time to resurrect that discussion, but make permits free -- at least for lower- income commuters living in areas poorly served by public transportation.

Rachel Figueroa-Levin tweets as @Jewyorican, @EveryGentrifier and @ElBloombito.