Cops Cracking Down On Illegally Parked Commercial Vehicles, CB Says

After two months of discussion at Community Board 11 meetings, the NYPD is cracking down on illegal parking of commercial vehicles on residential streets in Bensonhurst.

Community Board 11 Chairperson Bill Guarinello and District Manager Elias-Pavia told boardmembers last week that police towed four illegally parked trucks from residential streets during Thanksgiving week, and another four the following week.

The crackdown follows a board resolution last month, calling for New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly to direct the department to increase enforcement against trucks who parked overnight on neighborhood’ streets.

“It spoils the neighborhood,” Guarinello said.

Department of Transportation regulations state that commercial vehicles cannot park on residential streets between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. A violation of this rule may result in a $65 ticket for the vehicle owner – but for commercial truckers, the penalty is small enough to be ignored.

“It’s not the price of doing business,” Guarinello said. He noted that enforcement actions will continue into the foreseeable future.

Leaders hope that frequent monitoring of illegal commercial vehicle parking will mitigate this quality of life matter in the community.