Alternate-Side Double Parking?

When we first moved to Brooklyn back in 2003, we were rather surprised to encounter the practice of double-parking during alternate side hours, a tradition which apparently is tacitly condoned, though not explicitly allowed, by the traffic police. A reader on The Forum this morning has a specific question about what the unwritten rules really are and how to play the game to ensure not getting a ticket. Your help is needed and appreciated. Comment here…