Bank Tows Violators

It's happened before, and it's happening again: Cars parked illegally in the lot behind the Bank of New York's 66 Main Street offices are being towed. Actually, for four years the bank has not seen fit to do any towing, but on Friday nine drivers returned to the lot only to find their vehicles gone.

Balcuns' Service Station on North Main Street was hired to do the job. Linda Balcuns said Monday that she was too busy to confirm the number of cars towed. She did say that security guards the bank has hired to keep non-bank customers out of the lot during business hours were "quitting right and left because people are so nasty." There was no guard on duty the day the cars were towed, bank officials said.

East Hampton Village Police Chief Glen Stone metz said the bank had informed the Police Department of its towing plans, thereby relieving police of chasing down possible reports that cars were stolen from the lot. "The village can't enforce a private lot," the chief said, "but I'm glad they called to inform us."

Marion Stark, the bank's branch manager, declined to return calls, referring them instead to Paul Lyden from the Bank of New York's Manhattan public relations office, who said Ms. Stark was "not allowed to talk to the press."

The signs in the lot indicate that parking is for bank customers only, "who can't do their banking" if others park there, Mr. Lyden said. The public can use the space, however, once the bank closes for the day at 3 p.m. on weekdays, noon on Saturdays.