The end of Wafels & Dinges?

City Council members Jessica Lappin and Karen Koslowitz are introducing a law which would allow the Department of Health authority to suspend any vending permits issued to a truck with two parking tickets (feeding the meter or idling) and to revoke the permit of a truck that receives three tickets in a 12 month period.
While we do not condone breaking any laws, we feel that losing the ability to operate one’s business due to parking tickets is a punishment disproportionate to the violation. Furthermore, if other commercial vehicles were to be subject to this same law would that mean that UPS and Fedex would be prevented from operating in New York City because of two or three parking tickets?
We understand the Council member’s concerns about making spots fairly available for every vehicle but mobile food trucks are just a small portion of commercial vehicles that park in New York City. For the most part we make an attempt park in commercial zones whenever possible, and we are relentless about feeding the meter.
There are many potential solutions to this problem such as raising ticket prices, setting aside dedicated locations for mobile businesses and we would love to hear from you and for your voice to be heard by the appropriate Committee Members. Here is how you can help keep truckin alive in New York City by emailing twittering and joining a facebook page:

1. Come to the hearing:
Wednesday June 16
10am
Committee on Consumer Affairs
250 Broadway
Hearing Room 16th Floor

2. Join the Facebook Page that Supports Truckers http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-Lappin-why-are-you-singling-out-food-trucks/128172920538771?ref=mf

3. Twitter your thoughts to:
Jessica Lapin @jesslapin or to
Karen Koslowitz @KK4NYC

4. Email them your thoughts or you can cut and paste a draft that we have made for you to alter and personalize below:
Jessica Lapin lappin@council.nyc.gov
Karen Koslowitz koslowitz@council.nyc.gov

DRAFT
Dear Council Member Koslowitz and Lappin:
I am writing in support of the mobile food truck vendors in my neighborhood. These trucks not only offer a wonderful array of affordable choices for lunch, they’re part of the lively street culture that helps define New York City. I love eating at the [INSERT YOUR FAVORITE TRUCKS AND LOCATION]
Your bill which seeks to revoke mobile food permits based upon two to three violations of parking regulations within a period of one year seems usurious and biased against a small segment of commercial vehicles that operate and park in New York City .
Of course these trucks need to follow City law like the rest of us and that should include their paying the appropriate fines for any infractions they incur. But this bill is unfairly targeting truck food vendors. If residential car owners receive a few parking tickets in a year, their driving privileges are not revoked. If storefronts fail to shovel snow or sweep in front a few times a year, they’re not put out of business. Why should this bill apply to truck food vendors and not, say, Fedex whose trucks liberally use the streets of New York City for deliveries? After two or three infractions, should FedEx be prevented from operating in New York City?

As a lover of food trucks, I ask you to please see my point of view: These food trucks are a real asset here in New York City that must be preserved. And I ask you to consider the livelihoods of the mobile food vendors who stand a good chance of losing their businesses based upon the all-too-easy to imagine scenario wherein they receive two violations in a given 12-month period.

Sincerely
[INSERT YOUR NAME]