Last Updated on September 30, 2017 by Lawrence Berezin
Wonderful quality of life street cleaning bill re-introduced to NYC Council
If at first, you don’t succeed, try re-introducing the same bill reforming the harsh street cleaning rules in NYC. And that’s exactly what Ydanis Rodriguez did on February 4, 2014. However, this time Councilman Rodriquez is the chairman of the Transportation Committee, and the NYC mayor is not Michael Bloomberg, driving community enemy #1.
The proposed law prohibits issuing a parking ticket to an owner or driver of a car sitting in the vehicle on the restricted side of the street, and ready to move it when a street cleaning vehicle approaches, or if the roadway has already been swept that day.
Bravo!
Here’s the full text of the proposed law reforming the alternate side parking polka
By Council Members Rodriguez, Chin, Dickens, Gentile, King, Koo, Levin, Reynoso and Mendez
“A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to allowing vehicles to park on the restricted side of a street which is subject to alternate side parking rules without being ticketed if the owner is in the vehicle and able to move it or if the street has already been cleaned.
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Chapter two of title 19 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 19-216 to read as follows:
§ 19-216 Restrictions on issuing notices of violation for alternate side of the street parking violations. a. For the purposes of this section, the term “roadway” shall mean that portion of the street ordinarily used for vehicular travel.
b. No notice of violation shall be issued to a driver or owner of a motor vehicle on a day when alternate side parking rules are in effect if the driver or owner is in the vehicle and ready to move such vehicle when the street cleaning vehicle approaches or if the roadway under where such vehicle is parked has already been swept on such day.
§2. This local law shall take effect sixty days after its enactment into law.”
Commentary
You may recall that, despite our best efforts, the reform law failed to garner sufficient votes to pass in 2011. Times have changed, and the NYC driving public deserves some relief from the draconian street cleaning parking ticket law. I wrote several blog posts and appeared at a hearing before the transportation committee of the NYC council in favor of these reforms when the bill was initially introduced to the NYC Council.
Don’t just sit there hoping other people will take action, write your council person and urge them to vote Yes for this important reform bill. If you need a reminder of why, think February- freezing- snow- rain.
In your opinion, what would be the best way to change parking laws? I live in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn and there are two major changes that I would like to see and many people that I talk to feel the same way: we have alternate side parking 4 out of 5 days whereas some areas of Brooklyn have it once a week! Also I live on a block that has one huge Church on one corner and then another church at the other end (same side) of the block! This takes away at a minimum 6-8 parking spaces… Residents with placquerds should be allowed to park in front of the church between the hours of 11pm and 6am. If you have to use your car during the day you cannot find a parking space after 6:30/7pm. My parents who are seniors (who requires handicap parking) cannot and should not have to park 5 blocks away because there are no spaces. This at the every least should be a courtesy given to residents of the block or senior residents of the block. ESPECIALLY since the church members are allowed to double park us WHENEVER there is a service on ANY day and not receive a ticket!!! I would really appreciate your thoughts on the matter. Thanks.
Dear Tami,
Good morning.
Great questions. Kudos to you for identifying some challenges and looking to take action to correct them.
You raise two different types of challenges, with different processes to solve.
Reducing the number of street cleaning days….There is a process in place to apply to the Department of Sanitation for a reduction of the number of street cleaning days in your neighborhood. The process starts with your community board making a formal request. Here’s a link to an article about community board 12 successful request to reduce street cleaning days.
http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120919/washington-heights/sanitation-department-begin-reduced-uptown-street-cleaning-schedule
Church parking challenge…Changing a parking rule, or adopting a new parking rule is a different, much more challenging, challenge. You need the passionate support of your NYC Council Person to introduce a bill in the City Council. I was recruited by Council Person Rodriquez to work to change the alternate side parking law. The Bill is still pending.
In my humble opinion, I would try to work something out with the Church and police precinct on a “grass roots” level. Based upon my experience, to jump into the chaotic sea of changing a parking law or rule on your issue may cause permanent damage to mere private citizens like you and me.
Good luck.
Best,
Larry
Didn’t know the street sweeper will be equipped with a camera. Thanks for the knowledge good to know
My pleasure, Gary!
Regards,
Larry
Let’s Stop Together the City: Parking Violations/Dept of Finance from Auctioning (selling) Your Car in 10 Days After They Tow It Without Notifying You First.
The City, purposely, neglects to mail Respondents a Notice of Enforcement/Seizure Proceedings.
Then, the City hijacks your car demanding extra payments, sharing profits with Sheriffs, Marshalls, towing company, and ponds/yards where the car is kept as ransom.
The link to Petition to raise awareness vs such abuse and collect signatures is at:
https://chng.it/zXTJm7Qs