Providing certain parking privileges for press vehicles.

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to providing certain parking privileges for press vehicles.

For purposes of this legislation, the term “press vehicle” means a registered motor vehicle which contains a license plate issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles indicating that the registration was provided to a member of the press, or a vehicle registered by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission or the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles in a series reserved for members of the press working in New York State. The proposed legislation would permit press vehicles to park where parking or standing is otherwise prohibited (except where prohibited to all motor vehicles) and would provide that they are not required to use an authorized payment method for a metered parking space or comply with any sign indicating a time limit for such metered parking. These rules would apply only if at the time of parking the operator or any occupant of the vehicle is actually engaged in the covering of a news event or a matter of public concern. Finally, the proposed legislation would establish that where any city agency has granted by sign any parking or driving privilege to “vehicles with NYP license plates,” such privilege is extended only to press vehicles and on-duty emergency vehicles.