Tickets Issued While Drivers Are Walking to or from
Muni-Meters Would Be Dismissed
Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (D-Bronx) and State Senator
Jeffrey Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester) announced that the State Legislature has
passed legislation (A.9353-C
/ S.6727-B)
that would protect drivers from parking tickets issued while they are walking
to a muni-meter to purchase a receipt, or back to their car to display
it. The bill would create an affirmative defense for any person being
prosecuted for an alleged muni-meter parking violation when that person is able
to produce a valid muni-meter receipt issued prior to or up to five minutes
after the writing of a summons.
In recent years many municipalities across New York State
have begun to replace conventional parking meters with new electronic parking
meters, or muni-meters, that dispense timed receipts that must be displayed
conspicuously on the vehicle’s dashboard. While these new meters
offer convenience by accepting credit and debit cards in addition to cash, they
have also created a new problem for motorists. In some locations drivers
must walk an entire city block to find the nearest muni-meter station, opening
a window when traffic agents can issue a summons before the motorist has a
chance to purchase and display a valid receipt. There have been numerous
reported instances of such predatory ticketing practices by traffic agents and
unfair convictions by administrative law judges.
This legislation will remedy this injustice by ensuring that
motorists who have a valid muni-meter receipt purchased prior to or up to five
minutes after the issuance of a summons are found “not
guilty.” The bill will soon be sent to the governor for his final
approval.
“Today, we’re eliminating one giant
pain-in-the-neck for everyday New Yorkers,” said Senator Klein. “Since
it takes longer to add time to their meter, people should be given a break when
it comes to shuttling between their car and the kiosk. This is piece of
common sense legislation, and I’m glad that lawmakers up in Albany agree.”
“Muni-meters have become an irritant for many people
throughout the city and state. Not only must people walk down the block
to feed the meter regardless of weather conditions, but they also must contend
with traffic agents who issue summonses when one is walking to or from the
muni-meter. Making matters worse is the fact that certain Parking
Violations Bureau hearing officers have found people guilty for summonses they
received while they were actually purchasing their muni-meter receipts.
This bill will correct this egregious injustice by mandating that a parking
summons received under these circumstances must be dismissed if the motorist
produces the muni-meter receipt. Fair is fair,” said Assemblyman
Dinowitz.
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