Car 54, where are you?

Stuck in the impound lot, probably.

Dozens of detectives say they have had their department cars towed -- by their own department.

On at least 35 occasions, detectives on the job -- in the middle of making arrests, working cases or testifying in court — have walked outside to find their cars hooked by a special detail of the Internal Affairs Bureau that hunts for illegally parked cop cars.

"The policy is ridiculous," fumed Michael Palladino, president of the detectives union. "It's an absolute waste of the taxpayers' money."

Getting the police cars back from the impound lot can take up to six hours, often while the detectives are clocking overtime.

Shortly after City Hall's crackdown on city-issued parking permits in 2008, the special IAB detail issued more than 1,000 summonses to city cops and detectives.

Police spokesman Paul Browne maintained that no cars were towed while detectives were making arrests.

"Parking placards have never authorized police to park in front of hydrants, in bus stops or in cross walks or on sidewalks," he said.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/detectives_getting_tow_nailed_KmuIlC8eJkI9k1WDyHFOcJ