New York State Assemblymember Nily Rozic from the 25th District, State Senator John Liu from the 11th District, and community leaders and business owners from Fresh Meadows held a press conference on July 15, urging Governor Kathy Hochul to sign the legislation aimed at combating reckless driving and street racing in parking lots. They advocated for this bill to become law in order to better protect pedestrians and other drivers from the impact of illegal racing within parking lots.
The press conference took place at the Fresh Meadows Shopping Center Parking Lot in Queens. Rozic mentioned that the parking lot has experienced numerous incidents of reckless driving and street racing in recent years, with the situation intensifying after the pandemic, especially during night hours when there are fewer vehicles, despite the installation of speed bumps. Statistics indicate a concerning number of traffic accidents and collisions occurring annually within parking lots. Those who engage in racing within parking lots should be held legally accountable, hence the bill seeks to include “parking lot” incidents within the definition of reckless driving, providing law enforcement with clarity on enforcement protocols. This issue not only pertains to quality of life but also directly impacts public safety, underscoring the importance of the governor’s signature on this legislation.
John Liu remarked that some individuals display audacious driving behavior within parking lots, performing stunts, engaging in street racing… People are rightfully incensed as this parking lot is privately owned, leading to limitations in police enforcement. By adding behaviors within parking lots (including private lots) to the definition of reckless driving, law enforcement’s ability to intervene is bolstered.
Lee Ting-fai, a Chinese resident who has lived in the vicinity for over a decade and worked as a security guard at the parking lot, stated during an interview, “There are many young people racing at night, making a lot of noise with their cars, disturbing residents’ sleep. It’s especially severe on weekends, starting from around 8 or 9 pm. We hope for measures to address this issue.”
Numerous community representatives and residents of Fresh Meadows attended the press conference. Sol Sturm, President of the Fresh Meadows Tenant Association, expressed that residents in nearby apartments frequently hear the noise of racing and reckless driving maneuvers, noting that these individuals wreak havoc in the parking lot before speeding on the streets. Sturm urged the governor to sign the bill into law to facilitate legal actions against unruly drivers in parking lots.
The A402/S760A bill introduced by Rozic and Liu in the State Assembly and Senate, respectively, targeting reckless driving in parking lots, was passed on April 15 and March 6 this year and is currently awaiting Governor Hochul’s signature.