“Fair Parking” package of new muni-meter bills was passed by NYC Council on January 18, 2012

The NYC Muni-Meter is the star of the show. I can’t remember a machine being the talk of the town since R2D2 exploded on the scene in “Star Wars.” The NYC Council passed a series of new muni-meter bills, affectionately described as the “fair parking” legislation, and sent them off to Mayor Bloomberg for his signature.

The co-sponsor of one Muni-Meter Bill, Council Member James Gennaro, stated:

““New York City drivers feel enough anxiety every day already without having to worry about getting a ticket while they’re walking to the muni-meter,” Gennaro said. “By ensuring that premature violations are canceled if a receipt is shown within five minutes of the ticket being written, my bill will bring a little peace of mind to residents who are trying to do the right thing and pay for their parking” [via the Queens Courier].

Mayor Bloomberg is expected to veto this Bill (surprised?). Council Speaker Quinn claims to have sufficient support to override the Mayor’s veto.

Let’s take a look at each of the new muni-meter bills separately to avoid confusion and NYC parking tickets

Failure to Display Muni-Meter Receipt

I receive a gazillion calls asking me how to fight a parking ticket for this violation when the caller paid for the time, but the receipt wasn’t properly displayed on the dashboard.

This muni-meter bill requires a parking ticket judge to dismiss an NYC parking ticket for failure to display a Muni-Meter receipt upon proof that a driver paid for the time [In the past, fair-minded judges dismissed this ticket].

It ain’t no walk in the park

Have you ever been the victim of a parking ticket issued while you were walking to or fro a Muni-Meter? Now there is a legal remedy for this parking ticket malady.

Council Member Peter Vallone, Jr. ( one of Bill’s co-sponsors) expressed his sentiment about this evil practice:

“It’s absurd to think that they could place a muni-meter a half block from where you’ve parked, force you to walk to obtain a receipt, and then ticket you as you’re returning to your car — but it happens,” Vallone said. “Once again, we had to write legislation to combat something that should never have occurred in the first place” [via Queens Courier].

The new Bill passed by the NYC Council empowers a parking ticket warrior to cancel the parking ticket if presented with a paid Muni-Meter receipt within five (5) minutes of issuing the parking ticket.

F.A.Q.

• Are these two Bills the law of NYC parking ticket land yet?

No. They are still a wonderfully peaceful dream until the Mayor vetoes them, and the NYC Council overrides his honor’s veto

• Will a parking ticket judge dismiss my NYC parking ticket for failure to display a Muni-Meter receipt, if I paid for the time

It is now and has been, the practice of fair-minded judges to dismiss this parking ticket upon a showing of a paid receipt matching the time the ticket was issued.

• Will I be issued an NYC parking ticket while walking to and from a Muni-Meter to pay for the time?

Yes. If a warrior spots your car parked in a Muni-Meter zone and does not see a receipt displayed right-side-up on the dashboard, your parking ticket toast. However, it is the custom of fair-minded parking ticket judges to dismiss this parking ticket upon a showing that the time on the Muni-Meter receipt is within a reasonably short time of the issuance of the parking ticket.

• Can I use the unexpired time on a Muni-Meter receipt to legally park at another Muni-Meter?

My advice is to use the unexpired time on your Muni-Meter receipt at a Muni-Meter with the same parking rates and regulations. Simply stated, you can’t buy time in Brooklyn at a rate of $4 per hour and use the unexpired time on your receipt to pay for time in Manhattan at a rate of $6 per hour. Here’s a report by Channel 7 reporter Jamie Roth…

Commentary

Bravo!

[Larry’s note: Photo of R2D2 via Hack N Mod]