What's happening
This bill imposes a $1,000 fine for unattended semitrailers or trailers on New York City streets, except for state-sanctioned film or TV productions.
Why it matters
Addresses street congestion and safety. By imposing a significant $1,000 fine on unattended semitrailers or trailers, the bill aims to deter commercial vehicles from being left on city streets, which can obstruct traffic flow, create safety hazards, and reduce available parking in densely populated areas.
Targets commercial misuse of public space. The measure specifically holds owners or those in lawful possession accountable, signaling a shift toward stricter regulation of how businesses use public street space and discouraging the storage of trailers on city roads as a cost-saving or convenience measure.
Supports New York City’s unique needs. This legislation is tailored to cities with over one million residents (effectively, New York City), acknowledging the particular challenges and pressures on street space and public order in one of the world’s most crowded urban environments.
Exempts cultural and economic activity. By exempting state-sanctioned film and television productions, the bill recognizes the economic and cultural importance of the entertainment industry to New York City, balancing enforcement with support for industries that contribute to local jobs and revenue.
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Who cares
Trailer owners and trucking companies
Owners or others lawfully entitled to possess a trailer or semitrailer would face a $1,000 fine if it is parked or unattended on a New York City street without a tractor or towing vehicle attached.
State-sanctioned film and television productions
Owners or lawful possessors of detached trailers connected to these productions would be exempt from the $1,000 fine when the trailers are parked and left unattended.
New York City police and designated enforcement personnel
The bill would add a fine to the existing law authorizing them to have detached trailers and semitrailers removed from city streets.
Headline styles
Fine for Unattended Trailers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 14
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.493
- Referred to transportation
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to transportation
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Home rule request
- Ordered to third reading cal.1181
Show 2 earlier actions
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Fine for Unattended Trailers
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Diana Richardson
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2761
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 29, 2019
Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to a fine for parked or unattended semitrailers or trailers on streets of a city with a population of one million or more
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph 2 of subdivision (b) of section 1204 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 193 of the laws of 1974, is amended and a new paragraph 3 is added to read as follows:
2. In any city with a population of one million or more, whenever any police officer, or any person designated by the commissioner [of traffic], finds a semitrailer or trailer without a tractor or towing vehicle attached, parked or unattended on any city street, such officer or person designated by the commissioner [of traffic] is hereby authorized to provide for the removal of such semitrailer or trailer to a garage, automobile pound or other place of safety. The owner or other person lawfully entitled to the possession of such semitrailer or trailer shall be subject to a fine of one thousand dollars.
3. If a semitrailer or trailer without a tractor or towing vehicle attached is parked and left unattended while it is connected to a state sanctioned film or television production, the owner or other person lawfully entitled to the possession of such semitrailer or trailer shall not be subject to the one thousand dollar fine as provided in paragraph two of this subdivision.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04502-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to a fine for parked or unattended semitrailers or trailers on streets of a city with a population of one million or more
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill would amend paragraph 2 of subdivision (b) of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, as amended by Chapter 193 of the Laws of 1974, to levy a fine for parked or unattended semitrailers or trailers on city streets.
Summary of specific provisions
This bill establishes a fine of $1,00o in cities with populations over 1 million for the illegal parking of a semitrailer or trailer on community streets or boulevards.
Justification
Currently, the owners or operators of illegally parked tractor-trailers or semitrailers are not fined. The owners can retrieve their vehicles by simply paying a $160 towing fee. For many tractor-trailer owners or operators, this $16o is a small price to pay compared to what it can cost to legally park a tractor-trailer in a city. The unfortunate result is that residents of many city neighborhoods who must endure crowded, exhaust filled streets are penalized while tractor trailer owners or operators - undeterred by a relatively small towing fee - flagrantly violate the law. A $1,000 fine for tractor-trailers that are illegally parked overnight would help to encourage the legal parking of these vehicles and help maintain the quality of life in our city neighbor- hoods.
Fiscal implications
The fines charged for illegal parking would offset any cost of enforce- ment of this law.
Legislative history
Senate Bill 6170 of 2017-18.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.