NYC confiscates 34 ice cream trucks, striking back against scofflaws.
In a story first reported in the New York Times, New York City came up with a clever way to punish companies not paying fines on illegally parked trucks.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
This happened in 2019, proving that, while New York was still crazy, it had a more whimsical veneer.

One hot day in June, the city hijacked 34 of them. They towed them away and parked them next to New York’s worst polluting power plant in Ravenswood, Long Island City.
“By constantly changing companies, operators could continue to re-register their trucks while eluding city officials,” the Times said.
“The truck owners ‘sought to evade enforcement of our traffic laws through an elaborate shell game, transferring ownership of their ice cream trucks between and among dozens of phony companies, effectively shielding their trucks from fines and seizure,’ said Zachary W. Carter, the city’s corporation counsel.”
When New York City confiscates 34 ice cream trucks…
It’s a piece of a continuing saga of trouble with these seemingly innocent pieces of wheeled commerce. When NYC confiscates 34 ice cream trucks, it pales next to the turf wars in which they’ve been involved.
As Eater New York reported…
Summer is just barely unofficially back and so is the now-infamous soft serve brawl between longtime giant Mister Softee and young disruptor New York Ice Cream. The fight between the two ice cream trucks is now several years deepand returns this year with theatrics like private investigators and violent intimidation tactics.
Eater New York
More from New York City…
Latest posts from Assorted Ideas, Large & Small
- Northern Boulevard Safety Concerns Spark Calls for Major RedesignNorthern Boulevard safety concerns have led community members and officials in Queens to demand a comprehensive redesign, citing unsafe conditions and a need for urgent action.
- Three New Schools Open in Western Queens Amid Ongoing Classroom OvercrowdingThree new schools have opened in Western Queens, giving some relief in classroom overcrowding, but families still face capacity challenges and tough implementation issues this fall.
- Certified 9/11-Related Cancer Cases Double at Northwell HealthNorthwell Health has seen a sharp increase as certified 9/11-related cancer cases double, transforming care for survivors and responders in the New York region.
- Long-Term Health Effects Linked to 9/11: 25 Years LaterThe 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks brings renewed focus to long-term health effects linked to 9/11, with ongoing needs for survivors, first responders, and affected communities.
- NYC Yellow School Bus Shortage Disrupts Back-to-School PlansA potential NYC yellow school bus shortage could affect back-to-school transportation and schedules as classes begin. Learn how families, schools, and city officials are responding.
Old RIOC, New Lawyer
President Jones has become better at saying RIOC cares.











2 COMMENTS