New York – 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.
Attached photo: Councilman David G. Greenfield discusses his legislation to reform the city’s Muni-Meter system and make it fairer and more convenient for drivers at a press conference this morning in Manhattan with Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Council Transportation Chairman James Vacca.
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Most of the time people park for just a few minutes to pick up something or for other small errands. The time it takes to walk over to the Muni meter, pay and wait for the receipt to print and then walk back to the car, opening the car and putting it on the windshield takes a nice few minutes, and sometimes it is very nerve raking too. Additionally, you have to keep looking back to your car to make sure you dont get a summons while walking to the meter Even though there is a law that you have a five minute grace period to pay and if the summons issuer is still there will have to void the summons if not if you mail in the receipt the summons will be dismissed but who wants to go through this whole hassle. I think that there should be an option to either pay by the old meters or use the Muni meter. Understandably, the Muni Meters have many advantages. Firstly, if one doesnt have enough change they can use a credit card. Another advantage is that if you have a few stops to make that day, you can take along the same ticket if it still has enough time and use it at different locations Once again, I would suggest that in addition to the Muni Meters the old meters should also be able to be used. My main concern is the inconvenience and time consumption. Just last week I had to walk almost a block to the Muni Meter, then wait for two people that were before me who paid with credit cards- which takes more time, then I had to walk back about a block to put the ticket into the car. The amount of time which I needed to accomplish my errands at that location was only ten minutes, so the amount of time which I spend paying for the parking was almost as long as the time I needed the parking space for. My suggestion is not to take away the Muni Meters altogether, because they definitely have many advantages, however, they should also leave the old meters so that people also have the option to pay the old way which takes just a few seconds.
There are way more disadvantages to the muni meters.(too long a list to type right now) Although it will be helpful if the meter won’t take money if it doesn’t have paper you still have to go find a different meter.
wow
They should include in the law that if the muni meter closest to your car is broken, you are not responsible to pay (that’s how it used to be with the old meters). They are very slow to fix the meters because it is now the responsibility of the driver to find himself a working meter. Why should it be our problem when the meter is broken? If the meter is broken, it should be their loss. The meters are too far apart as it is, especially on coney island avenue.
I agree with #1. Can anyone explain why they cant put a meter on each corner and one in middle of the block. The only positive thing I found about the muni meters is that on Shabbos when I walk to and from shul I know what time it is.