In an initiative beginning at noon today, Wednesday, September 10, 2008, vehicles found “blocking the box” will be ticketed with new, easier to issue summonses with fines of $115.
“Traffic Enforcement Agents will spearhead this initiative that was made possible by a recent change in the law,” said Commissioner Kelly. “More than 2,500 agents have new authority to write ‘blocking the box’ summonses. Combined with their efficient handheld devices, they will be better equipped to keep New York moving.”
In July 2008, a new law went into effect which makes “Obstructing Traffic at an Intersection” a parking violation. This law enables Traffic Enforcement Agents to write tickets for “blocking the box.” Previously, “blocking the box” summonses were moving violations that could only be issued by uniformed Police Officers and relatively few senior Traffic Enforcement Agents who needed to record license and registration information. This time-consuming process could exacerbate congested traffic.
Now, the same violation will be treated as a $115 parking ticket that the Traffic Enforcement Agents can quickly issue. Police Officers may still write the summonses as a moving violation.
Traffic Enforcement Agents will be posted throughout the City at intersections with high density traffic, where there is a propensity to “block the box.” Agents use a handheld Parking Ticket Device, or PTD, which can scan the vehicle information from the registration sticker in the window and print the ticket.
During a pilot program on Wednesday, September 3, 2008, Traffic Enforcement Agents issued 111 tickets for “blocking the box.” The total number of moving violation “blocking the box” summonses written in 2007 is 13,995.
(Yehuda Drudgestein – YWN)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
5 Responses
Another Bloomberg anti car initiative. He has declared war against the car in NYC
Soon there will be a fee to walk accross the street,pay -to -go -traffic lights
Actually, I support this. The driving in this city is atrocious. I can’t tell u how many times I have a green light but cannot move because the intersection is being blocked by somebody who just had to make that light. How much time do they think they’re goin to save from thier trip. 10 seconds at best. And why are they so close behind the person in front of them anyway? There is no reason to block the intersection. Legally, even if u have a green light but trafiic on the next block is back up, u are required to wait before the intersection. I’m glad. Maybe traffic will move more smoothly now. I wish they would crack down on double parking too.
# 4 – REVENUE FIR$T- Traffic flow :secondary consideration. City in Budget Squeeze, Must make REVENUE!! This is the Pattern: City Cracks down on Dbl Park,Cell Phone, Seat belt etc. People stop those violations, less REVENUE. Lets invent a NEw Tactic to fleece the public under the Guise of Traffic flow, safety, etc.
When you block the box, you are declaring “I AM #1”, and no one else counts.
PAY FOR YOUR CONCEIT!