Fine, Be That Way: City Resorts To Ticketing For $$

Since the city's tax revenue has plummeted, with the stock market and the fortunes of Wall Street, the Staten Island Advance notices, "The city plans to collect a record $900 million in fines during the upcoming fiscal year, which begins next week, according to budget estimates," thanks to fines like "A $25 fine from Sanitation for failing to comply with the city's recycling regulations. A $250 summons from Parks for not stopping to 'scoop the poop' from your pet. A $200 fine from Consumer Affairs for leaving your shop store open while the air conditioning is running, and a $250 ticket from a traffic agent for leaving your engine running while you run into that store." Restaurant violations are up from $27 million last year to $38 million this coming budget year, but the big money maker is parking fines, which may rack up $600 million this year. Sari Kingsley, a recent victim of the ticket blitz, said she got her ticket minutes after parking outside her office, with the traffic agent claiming it had been there for over two hours; Kingsley said, "It's beyond just enforcement. It's harassment."

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By Jen Chung in News on June 29, 2009 4:03 PM

Comments [rss]

JMH

Sari Kingsley, a recent victim of the ticket blitz, said she got her ticket minutes after parking outside her office
Parking outsider her office how? Legally? Somehow I doubt it. People behave as if the law didn't apply to them and then bitch when, SURPRISE!, it does. If you don't want to get ticketed, park legally and pick up your dog's shit. Duh.

ANGRYGOD11

When the city demands more revenue and holds our public employees accountable if they don't meet standard, I promise you they will ticket first, and ask questions later. Wait until cellphone videos come out showing bs ticketing increases.

Notice the city said it wants more revenue, not to cut quality of life crimes.

Falulah Baker

"It's beyond just enforcement. It's harassment."

No, its enforcment. Expecting to get way with something thats obviously illegal and either inconveniences or jeopardizes the safety of others is harassment. Nice try, though.

themsthebreaks

I think its harassment when they give you a ticket and you should not have received one, as I understood that last story to read...she got a ticket for exceeding a time limit when she had actually just parked her car.

Otherwise, ticket away. Especially the lazy dog owners, that's just a pain in the ass for everyone when there's shit on the sidewalk.

Falulah Baker

I had been under the impression that she had parked illegally, like in a no parking / standing zone briefly, and recieved the ticket, rather than having let the meter expire. The article doesn't specify whether she was parked legally or illegally, only that she was parked for a few minutes. It makes a big difference in whether she deserved to be ticketed or not !

I guess my point is that a person can't really complain that they didn't get away with breaking the law (assuming she did) even if they think they broke it just "a little". Further, even the most minor violations i.e. double parking, littering, not cleaning up after your dog, etc. aren't "victimless".

Gwinny

Dear NYPD: can you please start ticketing all the douchebags who park in the bike lanes? Gee thanks! From all cyclists citywide.

lemon

Holla.

Liam

My building got a 25 dollar NYDS ticket because some idiot was too lazy to sort their recyclables from their trash. I say : keep writing them up. If you don't want a ticket, don't be a lazy asshole.

valeriob

What a great solution!

Ask those with authority to use it arbitrarily.

endoubleu

I didn't know the A/C-with-the-doors-open thing was against the law, but it always pisses me off when I see it. Such a waste of energy! Now I may just report the stores that do it!

Tom Servo

If you can't pay the fine, don't do the crime.

Tom Servo

If you can't pay the fine, don't do the crime.

inoyourider

As long as you comply there's nothing to worry about.

And definitely the dogshit people.

They should have to go to the pound and pay a grand to get their animal back.

mocanlagunas

Good! Come to my neighborhood and just from the dog shit, the noise late at night, the loud motorcycles, the double parked assholes, etc and the budget will be fixed...

moonbeam

ITA. It seems like a win-win to me.

Armchair_warrior

bunch of assholes, my brother was in a moving car and they try to give him a ticket. after he drop me off. they said he got his plates and still would be sending the ticket anyway. since my brother was in the car and we saw the metermaid coming!

pally

You (or your brother) committed a violation that warranted a ticket, and it's unfair that they tried to give it to you because you saw the officer coming? Maybe I don't understand what you're trying to say.

hotstepper

can we tax the hot air coming out of Al Sharpton? it just has to be contributing to global warming i tell ya.

zpk

Maybe they should start ticketing those SUV drivers who try to run me over at every intersection.

imadick

or rude people. rude people are mean and make me sad and gray inside.

nicemarmot

Please feel free to ticket the dogshit leavers as much as possible. As someone who always picks up after their dog, I really hate the douches who make us all look like assholes. Frankly I'd make the fine higher - maybe $1k per ignored poo.

Clickety-Clickety Clack

I'm with you. I'm tired of getting the stink eye from people when walking my dog because of those who just leave it. What kind of person just leaves their dog's poo on the sidewalk anyway?

yetanotherdamneduselessaccount

What kind of person just leaves their dog's poo on the sidewalk anyway?

The same kind that throw cigarette butts on the ground.