Posted by Larry Berezin on Wed, Jul 14, 2010 @ 09:00 AM
Do you know there is a two (2) step process to raise the broken parking meter defense?
Don't be a victim of "Now you tell me." Make sure you know the answers to these three (3) questions before NYC reaches into your wallet and fines you for the wrong answer.
According to the DOF website, here's the correct way to assert a "my parking meter was broken or running too fast" defense.
"A broken meter may - or may not - absolve you from liability in a parking violation. At a broken meter (one that is not working at all or is too fast) parking is allowed for the maximum time lawfully allowed at that meter (an hour for a 1-hour meter, two hours for a 2-hour meter, etc.). If you were issued a ticket for an expired meter violation and the meter was broken, you must send your plea of "Not Guilty" to a different claim unit so that your claim can be substantiated.
Check "Broken Meter" in the third box at the bottom of the back of the ticket. This is an administrative claim, not a request for a hearing. Send the ticket to:
NYC Department of Finance Meter Unit
P.O. Box 29021
Cadman Plaza Station
Brooklyn, NY 11202-9021
- If your meter claim is valid, the ticket will be dismissed.
- If your meter claim is denied, it will automatically be put in for a hearing on the ticket. If you have other evidence for an additional defense, you should send copies of that with your original meter claim."
Can you park at a broken Muni-Meter?
"When a Muni-Meter is out-of order, it will flash a red light, and the display message will read 'machine out of order.' The motorist is required to purchase a parking receipt from the next nearest Muni-Meter on the same block or within the same Municipal Lot. If all Muni-Meters on the block are broken or missing, New York City law permits motorists to park for the time duration posted on the block side signage"
Can you park at one of the 570 bus stops that are no longer active bus stops?
Yes. The big but is you may still be issued a parking ticket. If so, fight your NYC parking ticket. Judges are instructed to dismiss all of these cockamamie, should never have been issued in the first place, parking tickets.
Any one have a "now you tell me" to share? We all love to hear from you.