Greenfield Bill Would Eliminate Fines For Parking In Front Of Broken Fire Hydrants

As part of a package of bills intended to address parking headaches, City Councilman David Greenfield has introduced legislation that would eliminate fines for parking in front of busted fire hydrants.

“I am committed to making life easier for all of New York’s drivers,” Greenfield said in a press release. “These bills are each designed to solve a real problem in a practical way. I will continue to promote common-sense reforms such as these that will help to ease some of the congestion and headaches that have historically come with driving a car in New York.”

New York has many non-functional fire hydrants that have not been removed, Greenfield said. However, it is still illegal to park in front of a hydrant — regardless of whether it works — meaning that drivers are losing out on valuable spaces.

Greenfield’s bill would require the city to mark non-working hydrants with green paint and eliminate penalties for cars parked beside them.

Another of Greenfield’s other bills would prevent the city from towing vehicles unless they have been immobilized with a wheel lock for at least 72 hours. The law is intended to make it easier for drivers to access their cars without having to travel to impound lots or search surrounding streets, Greenfield said

The bill would not apply to cars illegally parked at bus stops, fire hydrants, crosswalks, or in tow away zones, that are blocking legal driveways, or when the immediate towing of the vehicle is required as a matter of public safety.

The final bill introduced last week by Greenfield would eliminate requirements to feed parking meters on Black Friday. Shoppers, stuck in long lines at shopping centers, often miss feeding the meters, making Black Friday one of the most-ticketed days of the year. The councilman said New Yorkers should not be penalized for patronizing local businesses.

Greenfield has introduced legislation in previous years that would open up spaces near defunct fire hydrants and require drivers to have their vehicles locked, rather than towed. Both bills failed to pass, according to Streetsblog.