NYPD Cracking Down On Ice Cream Trucks?

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This weekend, that won't just be high blood pressure you're feeling—we're in for another brutal heat wave. And worst of all, our greatest defense against the burning in our hearts may be in serious danger: the NYPD may be cracking down on ice cream trucks.

According to Midtown Lunch, an altercation took place earlier this week between a Mister Softee vendor (an unlicensed one) and cops near Bryant Park, which led to a physical confrontation. Miss Softee tweeted afterwards: "kicked out and closed shop—law enforcement coming down hard on all vendors after an incident involving an ice cream truck yesterday :( "

This couldn't have come at a worse time, not after we finally got the pink hipster ice cream truck we've all been praying for. The possibility of an ice cream truck prohibition brought back painful memories of the Good Humor-less month of June 1950, when teamsters shut down Good Humor's NY operations for three agonizing weeks. If you've seen any other ice cream truck incidents, or haven't noticed your local ice cream truck recently, let us know. In the meantime, maybe we can all try applying for Carvel black cards.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Ben Yakas in News on July 16, 2010 3:57 PM

Comments [rss]

Zeta

THESE TRUCKS HAVE TO BE OUTLAWED.

They do following;

1) Schizophrenic music tune (like a giant music box)

2) Loud polluting diesel engine(black smoke visible on top)

Engine never stops.

3) I have seen the driver threaten small ice cream vendor

4) Disrupts family harmony and dynamics and music is method it uses to influence kids and override parents guidance.

When you see one do following

Call 311 and give a report where you explain all of the relevant above points and take a case number that they will give you.

dadoc

And how the h-ll does this ice cream article lead to suggested Gothamist links about virgin waxing pre-teen girls from 2008? Either the software or the editors are just some really warped MFs. :)

dadoc

Mr Softee? ARRRGHHH. When I was growing up in Brooklyn in the '60s, we lived 2 blocks from the Mr Softee garage. Back then, the jingle started the moment they started the engine until they shut it down. I remember walking to school, with literally 100 Mr Softee trucks cruising down Sixth Avenue, all out of sync. Kinda like the helicopter scene from Apocalypse, but with hallucinogens and a smiley guy with a custard hat.

But seriously, tune it out, we did, be happy you can grab an icecream and enjoy.

Now our block's Good Humor guy (Angel, I think) on the pedal cart with the handlebar box containing some weight of weed in single-serving bags and a .38 Chief, that's a different ice cream story for a different time.

Shinobi Shaw

I get annoyed with the repetitive Mr. Softee tune, but I love the independent 'trendy' ice cream trucks and with this heat I can tolerate the douchebaggery of the latter but not the tediousness of the former!

John L

Man I love Mr.Softee and that little jingle makes me reminisce of all the fun growing up here in NY. If you grew up in NY how can you possibly hate Mr.Softee?

What I do hate is all these cops chasing around these small businessmen when there's real criminals to catch. I hate to see them cracking down on Mr.Softee, cracking down on food vendors, cracking down on bicycle riders, cracking down on motorists but where's the crackdown on criminals? Is it a coincidence that crime is going up while cops are wasting time cracking down on nonsense? Murders and most major crimes are up but their busy chasing around Ice Cream Terrorists, you've got to be kidding me!

otta

I'm all for ice-cream and I'll even deal with their tunes, but these damn trucks can be a hazard! I even called 311 on one that consistently blocks the intersection and view of streetlights close to where I work. "Ice cream parlor" parks at the intersection at Morningside Ave and 123rd St most days when kids at a nearby school finish classes, and so people have to guess whether they can cross the street or not.

I might TP that damn truck some day if they don't move.

r1b2

I have fantasies of bashing the speakers with a baseball bat to stop those stupid bells.

jaycjay

"a Mister Softee vendor (an unlicensed one)"

Can't be both. If it was a Mister Softee vendor, he was licensed. If it was an unlicensed vendor, it wasn't Mister Softee.

jaycjay

And, now that I've read it, the linked Midtown Lunch piece says it was "a generic truck".

Nyctini11

i hate these damn things, the incessant music as they park outside a window for upwards of an hour, is enough to make anyone go postal

Gwinny

get the license # and report them to 311. that's what I did, and it actually worked (the guy was followed around, then fined for not turning his music off)