Report: NYPD towed semis while drivers slept amid Coronavirus emergency
A New York City Police Department precinct towed trucks from a residential roadway while the drivers waiting for a load were trying to get some much-needed rest amid the Coronavirus crisis, according to a new report.
The raids occurred early on March 23 on a residential road in the 66th Precinct of New York City, according to law enforcement-focused news group Blue Lives Matter.
The report centers on a now-deleted tweet from the NYPD’s 66th Precinct that was screengrabbed and shared by retired NYPD Detective David Chianese.
The tweet reads: “Our traffic safety officer was out on Bay pkwy towing these illegally parked trailers. Please remember commercial vehicles can’t be parked on residential blocks.” The tweet also featured several images from the truck towing operation.
According to the report, many of the truck drivers parked on the residential street were from out of state and were resting as they were waiting to pick up loads. The truckers reportedly had to deal with getting their trucks out of the impound lot in the morning, giving them less time to transport goods during the emergency.
Chianese later ribbed the NYPD for removing the post.
While the trucks may have been parked illegally, truck drivers across the country have been working long hours to try to keep the nation’s grocery store shelves filled with essential supplies during the Coronavirus outbreak, which has been declared a national emergency.
In contrast, many state and federal enforcement agencies have shown support for trucking during the pandemic by either relaxing rules or providing direct assistance to drivers.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has responded to the crisis by lifting Hours of Service restrictions nationwide for truckers hauling Coronavirus relief supplies and by easing CDL renewal and medical exam requirements in an attempt to keep the supply chain moving.
Some local police departments have even gone so far as to offer to help truckers get a hot meal as they are over the road during the crisis.