NYTimes: City Will Slash That Parking Fine, if You Ask

daniel

This NYTimes article says that:

Any driver who challenges a parking ticket — in person, in writing or online — is offered a substantial, guaranteed reduction for most fines

However, it doesn't say how you can do this online. There's no obvious way that I can see how to do it on the NYC site where you can pay your parking tickets: http://nycserv.nyc.gov/NYCServWeb/NYCSERVMain

Any ideas on how this can be done online?

anastasia beaverhausen

I recently tried to do that online. The ticket stated the incorrect year and color of my car. I still had to pay it. In full.

slopehead

If they get anything incorrect on the ticket you can show up in person at the traffic court and they'll usually toss the ticket. I've done this a few times now. Of course with the new electronic ticket printers there's much less chance of mistake.

anastasia beaverhausen

I think you're right. If I had gone down there, I probably would have at least gotten a reduction. The letter I got after the "hearing" stated that incorrect year and color have no bearing on the ticket (it was one of the very few hand written tickets I've gotten). I know better now.

carnivore

What they were talking about in the article though is that if you plead guilty and don't challenge the ticket in a hearing, then you can still get the fine reduced.

old time brooklyn

I dispute every ticket. Didn't know there was a program.

mpmav1

Anastasia Beaverhausen wrote: I recently tried to do that online. The ticket stated the incorrect year and color of my car. I still had to pay it. In full.

same... minus the incorrect year/color.

filmlover44

Subject: Re: NYTimes: City Will Slash That Parking Fine, if You Ask

daniel wrote: This NYTimes article says that:

Any driver who challenges a parking ticket — in person, in writing or online — is offered a substantial, guaranteed reduction for most fines

However, it doesn't say how you can do this online. There's no obvious way that I can see how to do it on the NYC site where you can pay your parking tickets: http://nycserv.nyc.gov/NYCServWeb/NYCSERVMain

Any ideas on how this can be done online?

guaranteed? ROFLMAO! I don't think so. I've disputed two tickets. One I still had to pay and the other was dismissed entirely because for the first one, I made a stupid parking mistake and for the second one some idiot moved my car, slashed my tires and then I got a ticket on top of that.

carnivore

Subject: Re: NYTimes: City Will Slash That Parking Fine, if You Ask

filmlover44 wrote: [quote=daniel]This NYTimes article says that:

Any driver who challenges a parking ticket — in person, in writing or online — is offered a substantial, guaranteed reduction for most fines

However, it doesn't say how you can do this online. There's no obvious way that I can see how to do it on the NYC site where you can pay your parking tickets: http://nycserv.nyc.gov/NYCServWeb/NYCSERVMain

Any ideas on how this can be done online?

guaranteed? ROFLMAO! I don't think so. I've disputed two tickets. One I still had to pay and the other was dismissed entirely because for the first one, I made a stupid parking mistake and for the second one some idiot moved my car, slashed my tires and then I got a ticket on top of that.

Again, I think people are misinterpreting the article. The only guaranteed reduction is if you agree not to dispute the ticket. You have to plead guilty to get the guaranteed reduction. The city is willing to take a small loss on the ticket to save money on the infrastructure for hearing all these cases.

anastasia beaverhausen

You and your logic. We just want to bitch about having to pay our tickets. Okay??

god

Pietura sūdzību un apmaksāt savu biļeti!

carnivore

Wait, so is GOD Latvian, or Russian?

filmlover44

I'm going to make a wild guess that you say not guilty, that you want a court date. You will then be offered the discount if you agree to plead guilty instead.

anastasia beaverhausen

Carnivore wrote: Wait, so is GOD Latvian, or Russian?

He's French!

god

Carnivore wrote: Wait, so is GOD Latvian, or Russian?

I speak in many tongues.

brooklynpotter

they got my license plate wrong; i fought and won. no fine.

popstar0

they will reduce almost any ticket if you write in and plead not guilty. dispute the ticket within the time they say to do it in. almpst all tickets are reduced this way. you must write also write them a short letter and tell them your story, in your favor of course. try it and see.

mpmav1

At least for me, the story of "I was wrong and I'll never do it again but I'm broke so please reduce" does not work.

vidro3

It is not an official program but if you plead not guilty they almost always reduce the ticket in hopes that you will pay the lower price.

Any incorrect info on a ticket does not result in dismissal. Only certain items must be correct.

Here is an old pamphlet explaining it.

http://www.z3ers.com/online/nycparking/pvo_itslaw_00.pdf

See also:
http://www.brooklynian.com/~brooklyn/forums/viewtopic.php?p=472646&sid=49d37d9ce4355511a8cc01eaf4c95e72

vidro3

okay so after reading the article it does seem somewhat official.

but i think someone just standardized what was already a common occurrence. i'm pretty sure there is nothing that says they must reduce the fine, it is just common practice.

username

argh..from my experience here are the options:

1. accept the lower amount even if you are clearly not guilty
2. take a day off for a live hearing and pay zero
3. ask for a hearing by mail and pay the full fine regardless of any evidence provided
3a. appeal the ticket, win the appeal, and pay zero (and miss work)

this pattern has held true for me for the approx ten tickets i've gotten over the last few years..and it REALLY pisses me off since i can't always afford to take a day off to get a real hearing.

daniel

So, I was able to get the reduced fee by doing the following:

1. On the NYCServ Service Center website, http://nycserv.nyc.gov/NYCServWeb/NYCSERVMain, I chose "Request Hearing For: Parking Tickets".

2. I entered the ticket number for the ticket in question.

3. I entered my reason for why I should not be held liable for the ticket.

4. A few days later, I received the following email:

Dear Sir / Madam:

We have received your web request for a hearing on your parking summons. A hold will be placed on this violation, so no penalty will accrue pending this action.

Based on the violation, we are offering you the opportunity to pay a reduced fine in the amount of $43.00. You have 5 days to accept this offer. Once you accept this offer you must pay within 30 days to the address listed below.

If you do not wish to accept this reduced offer and you would like an Administrative Law Judge to review your case, simply do nothing. Your case will be reviewed in the next 30 days. If you are found guilty, you will no longer be eligible for the reduced amount and must pay the full fine as well as any penalties.

ACCEPT BY REPLYING TO THIS EMAIL -- THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO PAY THE REDUCED AMOUNT.

Please make sure to pay the reduced amount of $43.00 within 30 days after responding in order to avoid further penalties. Be sure to include the summons number from the ticket.

That's it! All I have to do is respond to the email that I accept the reduced fees. The fee was reduced from $65 to $43.

jamzer

So basically you are stupid if you do anything but plead not-guilty?

mpmav1

Jamzer wrote: So basically you are stupid if you do anything but plead not-guilty?

yep

carnivore

Jamzer wrote: So basically you are stupid if you do anything but plead not-guilty?

Unless you think your case is so good that you can get it dismissed entirely, in which case you're better off actually contesting the ticket with a hearing.

jamzer

Carnivore wrote: [quote=Jamzer]So basically you are stupid if you do anything but plead not-guilty?

Unless you think your case is so good that you can get it dismissed entirely, in which case you're better off actually contesting the ticket with a hearing.

Seems like a good deal. I have not gotten a parking ticket in 5 years or so, but I will keep this in mind if I do.