The City Council’s Transportation Committee is reviewing a bill that Councilman Robert Holden sponsored which will require NYPD and the city Department of Buildings to investigate the legality of curb cuts for driveways before issuing summonses.
The legislation looks to save drivers money on tickets and tows as well as crack down on illegal driveways, according to Holden, who says the issue puts an undue burden on motorists.
“Too often folks are being summonsed, and even worse, towed because a homeowner decided to alter their curbs to create an illegal driveway. This is a problem that requires a response from our city agencies,” the Middle Village-based lawmaker said.
Holden further stated in a Facebook post that the practice of paving one’s lawn and created an illegal curb cut will end if motorists know it is illegal and park in front of the property anyway. He introduced the bill in June, claiming the issue of illegal curb cutting could get worse as overdevelopment increases across the city.
“It’s going to be an even bigger problem than it is now, because as more and more housing is built the less parking is available,” Holden said during a public meeting in his Middle Village office on June 6. “It’s also a fire complaint, because if you park in front of your door you’re blocking the entrance, and we can’t accept this.”
While still in the committee, the law could take effect six months after it is signed into law.
NYPD would have to verify the legality of the driveway before taking any kind of action and the public can verify this information through the city’s website.
However, Holden said in a June interview with QNS that in order to make this bill more easily enforced, an online portal would need to be created that is accessible via mobile device or laptops in NYPD squad cars.
With illegal conversions and basement rentals on the rise in Holden’s district, the bill Intro 939 is just one of the bills introduced by Holden this year to take on housing issues that effect his district.
In October, Holden introduced a package of bills Illegal conversions, abandoned houses and stalled construction projects.
