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.

• The icy backstory to that ‘clink clink’ you’ll hear when raising a toast to the end of 2020
• Only in New York, il laboratorio del gelato, best in the universe
• Gauguin’s Cat – A Whimsical Cat Art Parody
• Let’s make a smart traffic plan for Roosevelt Island…
• TUGBOATS EAST RIVER FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY PRINT

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

Read the original article…

More from New York City…

Latest posts from Assorted Ideas, Large & Small

• 
  Former NYPD Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Impersonating ICE Agent in Brooklyn Federal Court
  A former NYPD sergeant pleaded guilty to impersonating an ICE agent in Brooklyn federal court, highlighting issues of authority, public trust, and the legal process ahead.
• 
  Queens Subway and Far Rockaway Stabbings Spur Police Investigations
  Queens subway and Far Rockaway stabbings on September 30 prompted separate police investigations and community response after two fatal incidents disrupted daily routines.
• 
  Fatal Stabbing on J Train at Woodhaven Boulevard Spurs Subway Safety Concerns in Queens
  A fatal stabbing on J train at Woodhaven Boulevard raises fresh subway safety concerns in Queens, as NYPD investigates and riders reflect on recent incidents.
• 
  J and M Train Weekend Service Changes: What Riders Need to Know
  J and M train weekend service changes will impact riders for five weekends as crews replace elevated track switches. Here’s what to expect and how to prepare for modified schedules across Brooklyn and Queens.
• 
  Coastal Flooding Disrupts Southeast Queens Streets and Transit
  Coastal flooding disrupted streets and transit across Southeast Queens as a fall nor’easter brought heavy rain and renewed calls for resilience and improved drainage.

Old RIOC, New Lawyer

Melissa Wade called the General Counsel process “textbook old school RIOC behavior.” President Jones now has to show whether the Board governed or merely approved.

Theo Gobblevelt May 22, 2026

President Jones has become better at saying RIOC cares.

Continue reading →