This is NOT illegal. Please take it down!

The chart on this site says DOT permits allow for 3 hour parking at NYC meters if on official business. Putting the plaque in the window means that it is on offical business. This means that this car is ok to park in this spot from 4pm on without paying (most meters end at 7pm), and then has to leave by 11am (I think meters start at 8am). He is parked legally, and not creating any type of hazard.

(Also, the comment on the right says that signage is "No Parking Anytime", but it is clearly at a NYC Parking Meter.)

This car was parked all night. Although you may not be able to see it, the sign says "No Parking 7AM-10AM except Sundays".

There was no placard.

He doesn't need a placard to park there. The DOT is on the side of the car.

Lawandorder, this is clearly a take-home car. This DOT employee works all day in the field and is then permitted to drive the vehicle home because they will be in the field AGAIN tomorrow. Don't forget that most DOT placards say 24 hours a day. Someone on my block with a DOT Department of Corrections placard says 24 hours a day and NOT 3 hours M-F. Another person on my block who drives an official city Crown Vic and works at HRA also has a placard that says 24 hours a day. There is a similar looking Prius to the one in your post but painted white and green with a DEP logo on the car and THAT placard says 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Also, there is a EMT Supervisor Ford Explorer with the red lights on the top from the nearby hospital with a DOT placard and that says 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Additionally, aside from DOT placards, there is a vehicle with a 20th Precinct placard--my neighborhood is not in the 2-0's SEZ--that clearly pulls a day tour, gets home at 5pm and leaves the car in a "No Standing: Except Trucks Loading/Unloading 7am-Midnight" until the next morning at 6:30am. By 5pm most trucks in the area have already made their deliveries and repair vans for the residential buildings have left. He causes no traffic concern ever and nobody seems to mind that he is parked there because, despite the fact that he is parking near his home, he is causing no safety hazard.

Law, I stand corrected. I couldn't read the sign in the photo, but if that is what it says, then you are right, this car is illegally parked.

However, as Will pointed out, this is almost a non-issue. He's parked along the curb, not causing any safety hazard, and while technically wrong, is trying to be as considerate as possible to the community.

one of the perks of the job

"Breaking the law, a perk of the job." Great to hear from a "high ranking NYPD member!"