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Old 01-28-2010, 02:20 PM   #1
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"Parkway Windows"

Hi All.

I am trying to get a straight answer and it's becoming infuriating.

The question may not be familiar to those outside of New York, but maybe it is, I don't know.

If you have a commercial vehicle here, you are not allowed on the parkway system. I am trying to find out whether, if I do NOT have commercial plates, but do have a cargo van, am I allowed on the parkways here or anywhere else.

AND, as a bonus, I have seen for years the small, round windows that people install in the upper rear sides of their cargo vans - called "parkway windows" - which allegedly make it legal to do that.

A NY City police officer did not know. A state trooper I just called in Westchester did not know, but he asked someone next to him who said "cargo vans not allowed." I then called a NY State police barracks in another county and he said "you're fine," then he said "I don't really know."

Does anyone know?

Thanks.

Paul

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Old 01-28-2010, 02:56 PM   #2
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Re: "Parkway Windows"

I'm not from New York, but a Google search on 'New York Parkway Regulations' turned up this site:
http://www.hudsonvalleytraveler.com/...aysOverview.pl

The list of official definitions is here:
http://www.hudsonvalleytraveler.com/...Definitions.pl

I would say that your van, if it is registered as a passenger vehicle, should be fine.

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Old 01-28-2010, 03:04 PM   #3
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Re: "Parkway Windows"

Whoops. I missed the part about House Coaches not being allowed, but the definition of House Coach is very confusing, especially the last sentence:
Quote:
House coach. Any vehicle motivated by a power connected therewith or propelled by a power within itself, which is or can be used as the home or living abode or habitation of one or more persons, either temporarily or permanently. In the application of these regulations to house coaches, a house coach propelled by a power within itself shall be deemed a motor vehicle, a house coach motivated by a power connected therewith shall be deemed a trailer, and all house coaches shall be deemed vehicles.
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Old 01-28-2010, 03:11 PM   #4
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Re: "Parkway Windows"

Ok. One more. Look at this:
http://www.hudsonvalleytraveler.com/...estriction.pdf

From the brochure:
Quote:
Some bridges on the parkway system have posted vertical clearances as low as 6’11”
Commercial or not, the possibility of hitting a bridge would be enough to prevent me from using one of these parkways.

Steve in L.A.
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Old 01-28-2010, 03:11 PM   #5
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Re: "Parkway Windows"

Yes, I have been googling, calling, asking, etc., but still come up with no straight answer.

If I knew for a fact that getting those stupid little windows would help, I might get them, but I'm going to do a little more research. Or just stay off the parkways, I suppose. That's not always easy, though.
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Old 01-28-2010, 03:16 PM   #6
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Re: "Parkway Windows"

Actually, that pdf you posted is really useful and has a number I have not called yet. Thanks.

I'd like to know because, even thought I'm 8'2", there are some important roads I need to go on that have plenty of clearance and are the best ways for me to get around.
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Old 01-28-2010, 03:36 PM   #7
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Re: "Parkway Windows"

Did you call 311? I've always been surprised with how much they know.
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Old 01-28-2010, 04:29 PM   #8
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Re: "Parkway Windows"

Called them first. They did not know - although they were friendly, as they always are - and they directed me to the D.O.T. When I got to them, though, they said it was the "truck section" and that I had to call 311 back and tell them it was not a truck.

Insane as it sounds, I actually did do that later, but still didn't get a good answer.

Tomorrow, I'm going to call the D.O.T. "Office of Freight Mobility" and see how that goes.
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Old 01-28-2010, 08:24 PM   #9
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Re: "Parkway Windows"

I worried about this too, since I drive to NY a couple times a year. I think it mainly applies to commercial plated trucks & vans, right? I said the hell with it last time, and took the Southern State pkwy to the Belt and didn't have any issues.
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Old 01-28-2010, 10:11 PM   #10
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Re: "Parkway Windows"

The more I look into it, the more it seems to depend on the plates. When I drove a commercial truck, I stayed off those roads like the plague.

I am going to make some more calls, but am leaning towards just going for it. If a cop really wants to stop you for something like that, they will. I am not going to cut those little windows into my van on the off chance that they may prevent that. If I knew for sure, maybe, because I travel those roads a lot, but nobody has a straight answer yet.

Life is to short to worry about that.
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