Last Thursday, the New York City Council held a hearing on proposed legislation to help keep truckers off of local streets. The legislation, introduced by NY City Councilmembers Leroy Comrie and John Liu of Queens, would require truck drivers to have colored truck route maps and an itinerary that displays the correct routes to their respective destinations.

The Council also discussed a resolution, sponsored by Councilman David Yassky of Brooklyn, asking the state to make existing truck laws stricter. The latter is resolution needed for state legislation that would impose points on truck drivers’ licenses for violating truck routing rules (A01433, S1505) to move forward in Albany.

The state legislation was introduced by Assemblymember Joseph Lentol and Senator Martin Golden, both of Brooklyn. Their bills would fine truck route offenders $250-$2,000 as well as impose points. (see MTR #399). The Tri-State Campaign has written to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver urging passage of the state measure.

According to Liu’s office, the City Council will take into account the three hours of testimony it heard on the legislation in order to craft technical amendments to the bill for transportation committee approval. Liu chairs the committee.

Liu’s office said the bill already has the backing of NYC DOT and many councilmembers, and its revised version is expected to pass in the full City Council sometime this summer.

NYPD officials, elected officials, and the public have indicated that many companies are willing to absorb truck route violations as part of the cost of doing business. Changing the law to add points to truck drivers’ licenses would make that practice much more difficult for companies and their drivers, and make local roads much safer and less polluted for neighborhood residents.  The NY Motor Truck Association opposes the legislative proposals, according to the NY Times.

The NYC DOT has talked for years about launching a study to revise the truck route map for the city, but is having persistent, but unknown difficulties getting the project underway. 

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