New York City Parking Rates to Increase BUT There May Be Some Relief on the Horizon

Delivering in New York City is about to cost even more as parking meter rates are going to shoot up. Effective September 4^thin Brooklyn, October 1^stin Manhattan, November 1^stin Queens, and December 3^rdin the Bronx and Staten Island. A parking spot can cost as much as $21.00 for a commercial vehicle. See the below table for the updated New York City parking rates:

*Downtown BK, Downtown Flushing, & Jamaica, Manhattan 125th St

As of now, charter buses will still be charged $20 for 3 hours. Click on the DOT Parking Rate Map for clarity.

The parking meter rates have not risen since 2013 and frankly it makes sense to increase prices a bit every few years for parking given the amount of revenue parking generates as well as the fact that the mechanism for collection is already in place. So, in a vacuum this is not overly problematic. Unfortunately, we do not live in a vacuum. Over the past five years New York City has aggressively removed traffic lanes and parking spaces both permanently as part of redesigns and temporarily as part of major construction and rezoning efforts. As such there is far less curb side space available and less space for trucks to legally double park outside of Midtown Manhattan. As for Midtown, between the explosion of FHV’s and placarded vehicles, dedicated truck loading space is far too often occupied by non-commercial vehicles, forcing trucks to stage or double park. Increasing the meter rates solves none of these problems and therefore will just serve as an added cost passed on to the consumer.

Yet, there is some good news to report on the parking front. City Councilman Rory Lancman introduced a proposal known as 1066, “this will allow an administrative law judge at the Parking Violations Bureau to reduce, or waive, in the interest of justice, penalties for failure to respond to a notice of a violation for a parking violation (additional penalties).” Removing frivolous penalties and late fees is a common-sense action that will provide relief for businesses and consumer alike.

This is particularly beneficial for companies that lease their vehicles where it is difficult to search for open tickets on the Dept. of Finance’s website. Another issue that relates to this proposal and NEEDS to be added is that ALJ’s must be empowered again, as they used to be, to hear requests to open and review tickets that have been in judgment for more than one year. The Administrative Code does not set a time limit, one must simply request the opening of a default judgment. Yet, relying on 19 RCNY § 39-10, (see below), ALJ’s were instructed not to entertain any motions to vacate a default after one year FOR ANY REASON.  This is clearly a denial of due process.  People are subject to towing or are unable to register their vehicles due to tickets in default that they may not have known about.  When an ALJ simply says “I’m not allowed to hear that” there is no document or decision available to even appeal to a higher level or to bring an Article 78 for judicial review.  This situation cannot be permitted to continue.

So, what to make of all of this? On the one hand increased meter rates without any other accommodations for commercial vehicles will not have any benefit on traffic flow and will only serve to increase costs to businesses and consumers. On the other hand, long overdue changes to the Parking Violations Bureau can really improve commerce in the City and are far more important than keeping metered rates flat.

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