Citing drivers for failure to "exercise due care" (administrative code 19-190) is a key enforcement tool of Mayor Bill de Blasio's Vision Zero policy, but a judge just threw it out.
Aidan Gardiner reports: "A key part of the mayor's landmark pedestrian and bicycle safety initiative that penalizes drivers for hitting people is unconstitutional, a judge ruled Friday."
"Queens Supreme Court Justice Gia Morris ruled that Mayor Bill de Blasio's Vision Zero charge, failure to exercise due care, violates defendants' right to due process as protected by the United States Constitution," according to Gardiner, "saying the law puts the burden of proof on drivers to show they weren't driving negligently, which violates their presumption of innocence under the Fifth and Fourteenth amendments."
The ruling comes after it seemed like the New York Police Department was beginning to enforce the city's Vision Zero policy. According to Gardiner, NYPD officers "are on track to arrest more bad drivers than ever on Vision Zero charges with 63 percent more busts than this time last year…"
As for next steps, a spokesperson from Mayor de Blasio's office says the NYPD can still use the 19-190 code that cites drivers for failure to exercise due care. The Queens District Attorney is considering options for an appeal.
FULL STORY: Judge Rules Vision Zero Law Unconstitutional as NYPD Increases Its Use
Zero Vision Zero: Streets Deadlier Now Than When De Blasio Started
Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2014 set a goal to eliminate traffic fatalities from New York City. Now, with de Blasio preparing to leave office, more people are dying on the city's streets than when he made that announcement.
New York City Traffic Fatalities Pass 2019 Totals
The visions of a car-free utopia that might have seemed like a potential silver lining in March and April have given away to a tragic reality.
After Compromise, 'Streets Master Plan' Headed for Approval in New York City
The New York City Council is expected to pass a "Streets Master Plan" this week that City Council Speaker Corey Johnson describes as designed to "break the car culture."
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
Test News Post 1
This is a summary
Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.
Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service