Good news out of Long Island for professional and nonprofessional drivers alike as Suffolk County announced a ten-week amnesty program for red-light camera, parking, and traffic offenses. The amnesty program will waive the late fees for these violations leaving the motorists to pay only the original cost of the ticket (as well as administrative and state fees). Motorists can use this amnesty period to reinstate their driver’s license if it was suspended due to nonpayment of fines.
Late penalties are particularly onerous as parking ticket fines double after thirty days and triple after sixty days on nonpayment. Often times trucking companies, particularly leasing companies, who are responsible for the parking tickets do not receive them in time (if at all) and are faced with massive penalties. Paul Margiotta, executive director of the Suffolk County Traffic and Parking Violation Agency (SCTPVA) gave the example of how someone with ten outstanding parking tickets can owe $7,300 including penalties. Under the amnesty they would owe $2,300. No doubt there are trucking firms who fit into Mr. Margiotta’s case.
This is a good deal for the county as well, as Suffolk officials claim there are 548,888 unpaid tickets, 437,615 of which are red-light camera tickets at a cost to the county of $45 million.
It is imperative that motorists take advantage of this program, which ends on February 20, 2019 because come March 2019, Suffolk County will go on a booting and towing blitz against vehicles with unpaid tickets. These blitzes involve the county contracting out to a private company which scans the plates and boots/tows accordingly.
For help taking advantage of this program and clearing up driving records, companies and drivers are encouraged to call Attorney and NewYorkTruckStop.com co-publisher Arthur Miller at 718-997-0641.
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