Skip to content

Does the Box Blocking Crackdown Ignore Crosswalk Violations?

Manhattan Community Board 2's Ian Dutton sends along this shot of a motorist about to be ticketed for blocking the box on Broome Street at W. Broadway in SoHo. Yesterday, police and traffic agents stepped up enforcement of what is a normally ignored traffic regulation. However, writes Ian:
boxblock.jpg

Manhattan Community Board 2’s Ian Dutton sends along this shot of a motorist about to be ticketed for blocking the box on Broome Street at W. Broadway in SoHo. Yesterday, police and traffic agents stepped up enforcement of what is a normally ignored traffic regulation. However, writes Ian:

Note that blocking the box only applies to getting in the way of other cars, not blocking the crosswalk making it dangerous for pedestrians.

Commenter ddartley elaborates:

The bigger problem is blocking pedestrian crosswalks. It’s a bigger
problem because it happens more often, it affects more people
(pedestrians outnumber motorists), and the risks of harm are far
greater than mere car-obstructing (peds are forced to walk out into
moving traffic every minute of ever day all around town). Nevertheless, the new law, while great, only deals specifically with
cars in the middle of the intersection. It does not define ped
crosswalks as part of “the box,” so I wonder if TEAs are now ticketing
cars blocking crosswalks.

Anyone else who witnessed yesterday’s action notice whether agents were also ticketing for crosswalk violations?

Photo of Brad Aaron
Brad Aaron began writing for Streetsblog in 2007, after years as a reporter, editor, and publisher in the alternative weekly business. Brad adopted New York'’s dysfunctional traffic justice system as his primary beat for Streetsblog. He lives in Manhattan.

Comments Are Temporarily Disabled

Streetsblog is in the process of migrating our commenting system. During this transition, commenting is temporarily unavailable.

Once the migration is complete, you will be able to log back in and will have full access to your comment history. We appreciate your patience and look forward to having you back in the conversation soon.

More from Streetsblog New York City

Monday’s Headlines: We Fixed Congress Edition

March 23, 2026

The City Is Doing to Prospect Park What It Needs to Do to All Parks

March 23, 2026

NYC Pols To DOT: We Want More — And Better — Summer Streets!

March 23, 2026

Why Some Members of Congress Want to Go Big on Greenways

March 23, 2026

Drunk Driver Arrested In High-Speed Harlem Crash That Killed Cyclist, Injured Four Others

March 21, 2026
See all posts