Getting Tough on "Crime"

It seems City Councilor John Tobin isn't the only one who thinks the people charging big bucks for ballgame parking at Fenway are criminals.

After having witnessed a 10-year high in the city's homicide rate last year, a sharp increase in the number of shootings on city streets this year, and a list of unsolved murders longer than Menino's "Whom To Blame Today For Boston's Gang Violence" list, it's refreshing to see Boston's finest allocating their limited resources toward cracking down on the real criminals terrorizing our fine city.

Park & cry: Game day gouging riles Fenway fans

A gas station'’s $90 Opening Day parking fee resulted in the city's close scrutiny and a testy exchange as an angry Boston cop said he'’d be keeping a close eye on the operation.

"Why aren't you doing this to all the other ones?" said the Boylston Street parking attendant, who called the scrutiny "unfair" and said, "I'm going to complain to the city."

Quicker than David Ortiz can turn on a fastball, the sergeant fired back.

"You go ahead and complain," he said with rising anger. "You ought to be ashamed of yourself, charging $90. It'’s outrageous."

The sergeant would not give his name and the attendant refused to give his name or answer questions when he was given a chance to explain why the lot charged the price of a replica Red Sox jersey for fan parking.

[snip]

An hour before game time, the police sergeant walked Leahy's Mobil lot, counting cars to see if the owner was within the number allowed to park there.

"We're going to be watching you," the sergeant told the worker. "Not just today. We're going to be watching you all year, every home game. If you go over by one, you'’re going to get a citation."

To serve and protect.