Res. No. 1004 Resolution calling upon the Governor and the State Legislature to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law to create enhanced penalties for illegally parking in specially designated school zones. By Council Member O'Donovan, Oddo, Lasher, Leffler, Pinkett, Watkins and Freed Whereas, Many students take school buses or mass transit to their schools, and other students are driven by their parents; and Whereas, Traffic congestion has worsened as the number of vehicles registered in New York City increase; and Whereas, Many drivers find themselves pressed for time in the morning as they drive their children to school, and take short cuts and unnecessary risks to "beat the clock"; and Whereas, On Staten Island, according to the Staten Island Advance, in June, 1999 "a crossing guard directing traffic near PS 26 in Travis was injured when she was struck by a hit-and-run driver" and in February, 1999 "a crossing guard at PS 13 in Rosebank was hit when an impatient driver ignored the guard's signal to stop;" and Whereas, The smooth flow of traffic is impeded by illegal parking, and can lead individuals to lose their temper, grow impatient and cause people to take unnecessary risks near schools; and Whereas, Illegal parking can limit driver's sight line and allow small children to enter traffic lanes unobserved because they are obscured by parked vehicles; and Whereas, These safety hazards are particularly unfortunate near schools because school zones should be areas where drivers exercise a high degree of caution; and Whereas, It is the policy of New York State to provide protection to school children and to enhance their safety near schools; and Whereas, School zones are designated by yellow caution signs, and school crossing guards derive their power to regulate vehicle traffic from Section 1102 of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Laws; and Whereas, It would improve the safety of school children, if the legislature permitted a city with a population of one million or more; to designate special school zones; and Whereas, Within the confines of these school zones, the penalties for violations of the parking law could be enhance to a maximum of $110 per violation; now, therefore, be it Resolved, that the Governor and the State Legislature amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law to create enhanced penalties for illegally parking in specially designated school zones. ls# 2162 9/21/1999 NMR:lc |10
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