Legislation spotlighted here over the early part of 2003 (noted first in MTR #399) was approved last week by the State Senate and the State Assembly. As originally written, the bill would have imposed points against truck drivers’ licenses if they were caught driving off of approved NYC truck routes, and increased fines for such violations. The bill now raises fines (to $200-$500 for a first offense and $1,000-$2,000 for a third offense), but the license points provision has been removed.

Albany sources say the element was removed out of deference to the NY State Dept. of Motor Vehicles, which administratively sets rules for charging points against licenses. Legislators said the DMV has stated a commitment to changing its point system to include the provisions originally listed in the legislation, but the time frame for this is unclear.

NYPD officials who addressed Brooklyn communities on truck impacts last winter said many companies are willing to absorb truck route violations as a cost of doing business. They supported adding points to drivers’ licenses to make deviating from truck routes more difficult and costly.  

The legislation was initially sponsored by Assemblyman Joseph Lentol and State Senator Martin Golden, both of Brooklyn. The bill passed unanimously in both the Assembly and Senate. Legislative aides say the bill is likely to be sent to Governor Pataki by the end of the summer. First the NYC City Council has to pass a home rule resolution in favor of the bill. The resolution has been introduced by Council member David Yassky of Brooklyn, and should be heard in the Council’s transportation committee this summer.

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