Parking Laws Waiting for Action in NY City Council

Last Updated on April 13, 2020 by Lawrence Berezin

Will these parking laws ever see the light of day?

Parking laws languishing in NY City Council’s “Green Room” is a familiar sight. Some have been introduced to the City Council while others have been referred to Committees for further action (or inaction). However, all of these parking bills have one thing in common, none have passed.

I find it valuable to research and read these pending parking laws to see what the future holds for parking in NYC.

Restricting the parking of certain commercial vehicles in residential streets overnight

This is old news, right? Well, yes, but the new parking rule version proposes to eliminate the exception afforded vehicles owned or operated by gas or oil heat suppliers.

Here’s the new version

By Council Member Holden 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to restricting the parking of certain commercial vehicles in residential streets overnight Be it enacted by the Council as follows:                    

 Section 1. Subdivision b of section 19-170 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended to read as follows:

b. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no person shall park a commercial vehicle on a residential street from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. For the purpose of this subdivision, residential streets are defined as those streets, or parts thereof, which are located within a residential district under the zoning resolution. Where a commercial vehicle is parked in violation of this subdivision, it shall be an affirmative defense to said violation, with the burden of proof on the person who received the summons, that he or she was actively engaged in business at the time the summons was issued at a premises located within three city blocks of where the summons was issued.

[This subdivision shall not apply to vehicles owned or operated by gas or oil heat suppliers or gas or oil heat systems maintenance companies, the agents or employees, thereof, or any public utility.] The sentence in brackets would be eliminated

§ 2. This local law takes effect 90 days after it becomes law.
8/2/19

Requiring the DOT to erect signs at the beginning and end of every parking regulation zone

A parking law or parking rule regulates the curb space beginning with the parking sign and extending in the direction of the arrow(s) until the next parking sign or if none, the end of the block. But, I can’t begin to estimate the number of complaints I receive from drivers who were unable to figure out where the parking restriction ended.

Well, now we would all have a sign marking the end of a restriction zone. How lucky will we be to have a parking sign telling us where a bus stop zone ends?! This will eliminate a driver’s plea that he parked far enough away from the bus stop sign to allow a bus to easily enter or exit (not the standard for a bus stop ticket)

How about that!

Here’s the proposed law:

By Council Member Koo

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the department of transportation to erect signs at the beginning and end of parking regulation zones

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 19 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 19-175.7 to read as follows:

§ 19-175.7 Parking regulation zone signs required.

a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the term “regulation zone” means the part of the street covered by a parking restriction.

b. Where a parking regulation zone affects a portion of the street, the department shall post signs at the locations where the parking regulation begins and where such regulation ends. Such signs shall include arrows clearly marking the parking regulation zone. The department is not required to post signs at the end of the area when the parking regulation zone extends to the end of the street.

§ 2. This local law takes effect 120 days after it becomes law, except that the commissioner of transportation may take such measures as are necessary for its implementation, including the promulgation of rules, before such date.

03/28/19 11:55 AM

Parking Permit abuse

Parking permits have been abused for years and years. However, it appears that the media published myriad stories of their misuse, which in turn won the attention and rancor of the NYC parking public, and at long last the politicians.

Here’s a link to a bunch of the proposed new laws, including placard misuse.

Is the school in session?

Who knows? It’s a school holiday but teachers are required to report for meetings at school. Does this change the parking rules of engagement?

Yes!

How about during the summer months? Can you park in a school zone?

Maybe!

Commentary

We all lead very fast-paced lives, especially New Yorkers (but not me anymore). So, we may need to take short cuts to fit all of our daily activities into our waking hours. It is tough.

But, you gotta be careful of taking short cuts when it comes to learning parking laws, rules, and how to fight an unjust parking ticket.

• Read the text of the parking rule you were charged with by the Warrior or Cop. You may find a winning defense.
• Do some research to become confident you know the meaning of the rule
• And how to apply the defenses to the rule

If you fight it right, you’ll win and save your hard-earned dough so you can pay for your daughter’s tuba lessons.

Park safely.