In this blog, we've often discussed tickets issued for various traffic violations, but this post is all about parking tickets. In fact, commercial truck drivers who drive in or through New York City should be aware that police are now cracking down on 18-wheelers parked on the streets in the Bronx.
Recently, police in the Bronx's 45th Precinct slapped 14 parking tickets on commercial trucks in one night, with exceptionally high fines -- reportedly as high as $515. It was a deliberate attempt to send a message to commercial truck drivers that on-street parking will no longer be tolerated.
According to the Daily News, the areas that police are targeting include the I-95 service road near Co-op City, the Throgs Neck Expressway near the Throgs Neck Bridge, and the Bruckner Boulevard service road between Middletown Road and Wilkinson Avenue.
The problem for truckers is that there are no truck stops between New Jersey and Connecticut. The problem for neighborhood residents is that the trucks take up valuable street parking spaces, are noisy and emit exhaust fumes.
"They park there for days on end," said Community Board 10 District Manager Kenneth Kearns. "They constrict the flow of traffic and they are actually a hazard. It's odious."
It looks like the two groups may be locked in conflict for quite a while.
Councilman James Vacca told the Daily News that the recent crackdown is "not going to solve the problem -- we have to do more -- but it's designed to send a message that the community is vigilant."
Politicians are now trying to raise parking violation fines high enough so that truckers can't just dismiss them as the cost of doing business.
Stay tuned for updates our New York vehicle traffic law blog ...
If you have been issued a traffic violation, fight to keep your driving privileges and your insurance premiums as low as possible. Consider contacting an attorney who understands New York's confusing legal system, and who can help you evaluate your options and make the right decisions.
This post was provided for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as legal advice.
Source:
The New York Daily News, "Truckers get slapped with hefty fines in Throgs Neck, the Bronx," Kerry Wills, Aug. 24, 2012