The New York Trucking & Delivery Association (and their website, which seems to be brought to you by Geocities) has filed a class-action lawsuit against the city, claiming traffic agents issued many delivery trucks illegal tickets for double parking to plug a budget gap. "The scheme was accomplished through systematic and knowing issuance of illegal parking tickets," the suit claims, and they say the blitz started after the city revised budget projections calling for more revenue from parking tickets.
DOT rules state that commercial vehicles and trucks can double park "provided that (1) there is no unoccupied curb space within 100 feet on either side of the street that can be used for standing, and (2) that the standing is in compliance with instructions from police officers and flagpersons," and that they're not blocking a bike lane. And the Stipulated Fine Program allows delivery trucks to pay reduced fines if they waive their right to challenge parking tickets. However, the suit claims that starting in 2006, traffic agents ignored the program and ticketed double parked delivery trucks for blocking traffic lanes.
The tickets reportedly netted the city $50 million in fines through October 2010, but NYPD Deputy Inspector Kim Royster said, "The assertion that the summonses were written to generate revenue is false; they're written to address traffic and safety issues." And if they just happen to generate some revenue, hey, that's just gravy.
