New York Law News
-A Brooklyn man was cited for “drinking in public” while sitting on the stoop of his Prospect Heights home is now fighting the charge. The law in question seems to be up for some serious interpretation.
The city’s open-container law prohibits anyone from drinking an alcoholic beverage, or possessing and intending to drink from an open container containing an alcoholic beverage, “in any public place.” The law defines a public place as one “to which the public or a substantial group of persons has access, including, but not limited to,” a sidewalk, street or park.
Exceptions include drinking at a block party or “similar function for which a permit has been obtained” as well as premises licensed for the sale and consumption of alcohol. The punishment for violations is a fine of no more than $25 or imprisonment of up to five days, or both.
-New York City has a huge problem with people “blocking the box” while driving, meaning they block a cross street through a red light. A new law is now bringing a $115 fine to the act.
Starting Wednesday, vehicles found blocking intersections during red lights will be issued summonses with fines of $115 each.
The new law makes obstructing traffic a parking violation instead of a moving violation, which essentially makes it easier for police officers to issue tickets. Traffic enforcement agents also now are able to issue summonses but weren’t able to under moving violation regulations.
-In the wake of so many crane related construction accidents, a group of New Yorkers has started a website to document the safety of cranes at construction sites. They have set up a map listing all of the crane sites around Manhattan.
[C]ity inspectors can’t do it alone. They need your help. That’s why we, as concerned New Yorkers, have developed CraneWatch, an impartial, non-governmental Web site dedicated to monitoring the safety of New York City cranes and construction sites. Our site’s mission is to make it easy for everyone to find cranes in their local area and to review safety-related information compiled from the Department of Buildings and other sources. Visitors can upload photos, post comments and, soon, add new crane listings to our system. A mobile application will be available shortly.
