Jim Whalen of Teamsters Local 817 opposes strict idling enforcement for film crews
Whalen says film and TV production trucks are a mobile factory that needs power for sets. He argues the idling law lacks due process and transparency, produces delayed summonses, and forces drivers to choose between unsafe cabin conditions and fines.
Good afternoon.
I'm Jim Whalen.
I'm here on behalf of Teams'Local 817, the crew that keeps New York City film and TV industry moving.
When you spot a production crew parked on a New York City street, you might see a bunch of trucks and trailers, but you're actually looking at a mobile factory generating a lot of money for our city and providing good union-paying jobs.
It's a manufacturing plant on wheels with a massive logistics footprint.
It rolls into neighborhoods overnight, sets up assembly lines for lights, camera, and action, and crafts a final piece of cinemagic art.
So we are lucky and privileged to use New York City as our studio backlot.
Our trucks are packed with specialized equipment.
Like any factory, we need large commercial vehicles to transport equipment and provide power for film sets, which brings us to a big hurdle.
New York City's strict anti-idling laws.
If you can imagine a regular brick-and-mortar factory that had to shut down every three minutes, it just wouldn't work.
In my opinion, this law lacks due process and transparency.
There is no immediate notification, sometimes between six to nine months before we see a summons.
With this, it's impossible to gather evidence for a defense.
Third, we are seeing deceptive bounty hunter tactics, like filming exempt vehicles while hiding the fact that the lift gate is in use.
Plus, the law seems to violate equal protection by shielding city and state-owned vehicles that are usually exempts.
Fines usually affect the local small trucking companies that service our industry, as well as major studios that produce film and TV shows.
Our employers are frustrated and have attempted to shift these fines onto our hardworking members of Team SIS Local 817.
We fully understand the health and environmental perks of cutting emission, but these rigid rules also take a physical toll on our drivers during extreme weather.
New York winters are freezing and summers are scorching, and yet running an engine for heat or AC isn't an allowed exception.
For drivers in our industry who spend hours in stationary cabs waiting for the day to end, it's tough.
The law forces a brutal choice to endure unsafe cabin conditions or face steep fines.
This is about...
Thank you.
Your time has expired.
Of operating commercial vehicles in our busy city.
Thank you for your time.
Thank you, Mr.
Whalen.
Thank you.
I really appreciate you and all the teams.
and all you do.
Thank you.
Next witness, Louis Dubouquet.
You may begin.