Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, May 25, 2023:
As reported Wednesday, the city of St. Paul, Minnesota, was considering a ban on truck parking on any city street.
After a Wednesday afternoon city council meeting, the votes are in -- truck drivers in the Twin Cities will have to look elsewhere to park unless delivering or picking up freight. Councilmembers voted 7-0 to approve the new ordinance.
St. Paul joins its neighbor, Minneapolis, in banning truck parking in the city. The ordinance mirrors the Minneapolis parking ban in prohibiting any vehicle over 26,000 pounds from parking on any city street unless engaged in loading/unloading or providing a service. It also raises the weight for vehicles restricted from parking in residential districts from 6,000 pounds to 10,000 pounds.
Additionally, instead of the current standard $40 parking citation fee, the new ordinance creates an elevated citation fee of $150 beginning in January 2024, then $250 starting in July 2024.
[Related: Truck parking funding, weight flexibility bills advance in House]
Starting July 23, shippers and receivers in Washington state must provide truckers with access to existing bathrooms thanks to a new law signed by Gov. Jay Inslee.
