Shocking New Law Restricting Commercial Vehicle Parking in NYC

By Council Members Miller, Salamanca, Vallone, Richards, Dromm and Vacca

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, to reducing the maximum time commercial vehicles may park

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Subdivision a of section 19-170 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as added by local law 25 of 1988 and amended by chapter 458 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:

a.   When parking is not otherwise restricted, no person shall park a commercial vehicle in excess of [three hours] 90 minutes. For purposes of this section, the term commercial vehicle shall mean a motor vehicle designed, maintained, or used primarily for the transportation of property.

§ 2.  This local law takes effect in 120 days.

A Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature, and the Governor, to enact legislation to increase the penalty on commercial vehicles that park in residential neighborhoods, in violation of existing rules and regulations on such vehicles to up to $400 for the first offense.

By Council Members Miller, Salamanca, Barron, Gentile and Chin

Whereas, New York City rules and regulations restrict when and where commercial vehicles may park; and

Whereas, Currently commercial vehicles may park for a maximum of three hours in areas where other parking rules and regulations are not in effect; and

Whereas, Moreover, commercial vehicles and trucks may not park in residential neighborhoods between the hours of 9 PM and 5 AM; and

Whereas, In 2010, the State legislature enacted legislation authorizing New York City to increase the fine for tractor-trailer combinations, tractors, truck trailers and semi-trailers that park overnight in a residential neighborhood from $50 to up to $250 for the first offense and up to $500 for each subsequent offense within a six-month period; and

Whereas, Communities throughout New York City continue to suffer from commercial vehicles parking in residential neighborhoods; and

Whereas, Illegal parking by commercial vehicles, especially large trucks, poses safety concerns for pedestrians and reduces parking that should be available to community residents; and

Whereas, Increasing the fine to $400 for the first offense will create an additional deterrent to commercial vehicles and trucks who park in residential neighborhoods; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature, and the Governor, to enact legislation to increase the penalty on commercial vehicles that park in residential neighborhoods, in violation of existing rules and regulations on such vehicles to up to $400 for the first offense.