Councilman David G. Greenfield joined City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Transportation Committee Chairman James Vacca at a press conference today in Manhattan to announce new legislation that will resolve several major issues with the city’s Muni-Meter system.

Under the bill, which will be introduced at the May 8th Stated Council meeting, the meters will automatically shut off and not accept payment at times when drivers are not required to pay for parking at that location. In addition, the machines will not accept payment when it is out of paper needed to print receipts, and will allow drivers to pay for parking beginning one hour before the regulations go into effect. All of these are issues that Councilman Greenfield has heard numerous complaints about from his southern Brooklyn constituents.

“Muni-Meters are great but flawed. We’re just trying to fix those flaws. Nothing is more frustrating than paying for a meter and not getting a receipt. And good luck trying to get your money back. This legislation will make parking fairer and more convenient for thousands of drivers in New York City. I thank Speaker Quinn for her leadership and support on these common-sense fixes to Muni-Meters,” said Councilman Greenfield.

“Whether you’re doing your laundry or parking your car, you should always get what you pay for. This legislation ensures drivers will no longer pay for parking at a meter, only to find out that this requirement ended 20 minutes earlier. Our legislation will reduce frustration and increase fairness in how we pay for parking. I want to thank Council Member Greenfield and Chair Vacca for bringing this issue to our attention and for always looking out for ways to make life a little easier for New Yorkers,” said Speaker Quinn.

“We can and should do more to ensure that parking in this city is fair. Parking is difficult enough as it is. We should not let Muni-Meters take people for a ride when parking regulations are not in effect or when Muni-Meters have no paper to issue receipts. Council Member Greenfield’s common sense bill highlights the frustration drivers can do without,” said Transportation Committee Chairman Vacca.

This legislation would immediately apply to meters in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island that can easily be reprogramed to meet the new requirements under this bill. Muni-Meters that do not currently have the ability to be reprogramed, which includes the majority of those in Manhattan, will be required to meet the new requirements within two years of the date the bill is enacted.

This represents the latest step in Councilman Greenfield’s ongoing efforts to reform and perfect the Muni-Meter system to eliminate the frustrating aspects for drivers and to prevent unfair tickets. Previously, the City Council approved legislation, co-sponsored by Councilman Greenfield, to provide a five-minute grace period for drivers while they are paying for parking, and a law requiring Traffic Enforcement Agents to immediately cancel a ticket if the driver shows a receipt proving they have not violated the grace period. In addition, Councilman Greenfield co-sponsored legislation allowing drivers to use leftover time on their receipt on a different block as long as it has the same meter rate.

“I will continue to look for ways to make parking fairer for New Yorkers. No one should be nickeled and dimed by the city. We must provide the public with a convenient, fair and consistent way to pay for parking in New York City, and this legislation brings us much closer to reaching that goal,” added Councilman Greenfield.

(YWN Desk – NYC)