(This article has been modified from its original publication following the receipt of a formal statement by Mayor Adams’ office).
New York state’s primary trucking association is criticizing a crackdown on overnight truck parking in New York City, saying that “we cannot ticket our way out of this problem.”
News reports emerged late Monday that the city had begun a ticketing blitz in southeastern Queens, near John F. Kennedy airport. That is generally a working-class part of the city, and election information website Ballotpedia said the population of the 5th Congressional District, which covers southeast Queens as well as other areas, is 45.5% African-American.
“This type of parking is not happening in affluent areas,” Mayor Eric Adams was quoted as saying by local CBS affiliate WCBS on its website. “This is a residential community. They deserve the same level of quality of life that we give to other parts of the city.”
Overnight truck parking is banned between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., WCBS said.
The initiative began Aug. 15, according to the WCBS report. But Adams went out with police Monday evening as tickets were being handed out, bringing publicity to the project dubbed Operation Heavy Duty Enforcement.
According to a statement released by Adams office, the first five days of Operation Heavy Duty Enforcement, between, August 15 and August 19, resulted in 597 summonses, 89 wheel boots and 55 towings.
In a statement, Kendra Hems, the president of the Trucking Association of New York, said the organization “in no way condone[s] parking on residential streets where it is illegal to do so.”
But she said that “heavy enforcement alone has not worked in the past and will not work now absent available commercial vehicle parking.”
Hems’ statement goes on to highlight the problem that is bedeviling drivers nationwide: a lack of alternatives.
“The reality is that drivers, many of them our neighbors, family and friends, simply have nowhere to park,” Hems said in the statement. “This is not their personal vehicle but the vehicle that embodies their livelihood and provides for their family.”
She added that the city of New York should work with the industry to “address the underlying issue of inadequate trucking parking in all five boroughs … and finally find meaningful long-term solutions that benefit all New Yorkers, drivers included.”
In the WCBS story, Adams was reported as saying that there are areas in the city where trucks can park and that he plans to work with trucking companies to have drivers park there.
There was no such reference in Adams’ press release. But he was quoted as saying in it: “We cannot let our neighborhood streets turn into illegal parking lots.”
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Cowboy 7651
No hard feelings but you park where it says no parking that’s what happens I have to pay $85 a month to park my truck when I come home I see this all the time in truck stop parking in fire lane all over blocking other drivers in causing a fire hazard they need to be towed.
Mark
I live in the Savannah, Georgia area. The port is booming, warehouse facilities are being built EVERYWHERE, including in residential/ agricultural areas. When we deliver none of these places allow parking – it’s “Back up to the door” “Okay we’re done. Now just F off”. Some of these places will not even allow us to use the bathroom! Some provide porta potties but these are in a sorry state – think cholera breeding grounds. The cities keep approving building permits. More trucks come into town. Drivers run out of time and have to park for 10 hours.
My point? If the cities only approved building permits for facilities that made a bit of space for trucks to park overnight – off the street! Of only the cities only approved building permits for facilities that have decent facilities – namely BATHROOMS! Then these problems like in NYC would disappear! Savannah and the surrounding cities already have trucks parked on the side of roads everywhere.
Come on city leaders and warehouse facilities – make some little concessions for us truck drivers! Remember – EVERYTHING you buy and use – clothes, food, your toys EVERYTHING – COMES ON A TRUCK!
Stop victimization of truckers and do something small to make thier difficult lives a tiny bit better!
Privateone
Don’t cry over spilled diesel.
It is what it is, lots of truckers make their own rules, from speeding thru road work area to parking wherever they please under the pretense that no one will make them move during their resting period because the FEDERAL RULES say so. So if they are smart enough to know the federal laws, then why they ignore the city, and state rules regarding parking and speed limits?
Truckers should understand that no one is above the law, city, state or federal.
Sharon Gorenflo
Long time driver here & I could’ve never said it any better – this is EXACTLY what is happening & sadly for the rest of the world – the day truck drivers ever come together.. all take a 1 week vacation.. the world would SERIOUSLY CRY & BE HARSHLY AWAKENED
Oleg Vishnevskiy
Pro Drivers remember just one. NO PARKING, NO DELIVERY!
I am Ukrainnian Cossack.
BE BRAVE LIKE UKRANIANS!!!
Tom Elliott
Let them starve for a couple of weeks then they will rethink their decision on messing with trucks
Shawn
This is your demorat run places. Boo to states that are blue. NYC Nasty Yankee City.
Aaron F.
I’ve already stopped delivering to places with these kind of restrictions. Let their local boys come out and get it from the state line. If I can’t park in your city… I can’t deliver to your city.
James Spangler
Gee, if truck drivers would just quit hauling stuff into New EFFING York, they wouldn’t need any parking. Problem solved. Let the people of New EFFING York use public transportation to deliver goods to the people unfortunate enough to live there.
Tony Morgan
Yes with we cope with as drivers,each city that depends on trucks for their livelihood should provide parking area’s for trucks!
NYC shut down trucks entering your city for 1 week and see where you are! We all need each other to make life happen successfully and happily for us all. We as drivers travel all nite so you and your family can eat the next day.SO REMEMBER US.
Debra
Maybe drivers should boycott the island altogether? Well, essentially they are since 89 are booted and 55 were towed.