Bronx residents frustrated about mobile car washes taking up parking spaces
This year, there have been 65 inspections of mobile car washes in New York City and 61 summonses were issued, the Department Of Consumer and Workers Protection tells News 12.
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News 12 hit the streets of the Bronx after receiving several complaints from residents about an illegal mobile car wash taking up parking spots.
Leandro owns a mobile car wash that has been in the Bronx for about four years. He’s part of a team of two that he says have a loyal set of customers.
“We don't bother anyone. We're simply just looking to make a living like any human being,” Leandro says.
News 12 found one street in the borough that had about five mobile car washes in a row.
Some Bronx residents say this is the main issue, even for customers who frequent them, and that they need to be shut down.
This year, there have been 65 inspections of mobile car washes in New York City and 61 summonses were issued, the Department Of Consumer and Workers Protection tells News 12.
These inspections are done with DCWP and the NYPD for safety after they say some inspectors have actually been attacked.
Leandro says he's gotten a visit from an inspector. He argues his car wash isn't hurting anyone and he needs to make money.
“There are no jobs and I'm not going to let myself starve to death, and instead of doing something wrong, better to just wash car,” he says.
To operate a mobile car wash legally, DCWP says you need a valid car wash license and obey all federal, state and city laws.
Legal mobile car washes cannot operate on private property without permission, operate in the street, on highways or city parking lots, park illegally or wash cars parked illegally, obstruct traffic or use public hydrants.
For more information on how to apply for a car wash license and how to file complaints about car washes breaking the law, click here.
