THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK

OFFICE OF COUNCILMAN VINCENT GENTILE

CITY HALL
NEW YORK, NY 10007
(646) 335-3692
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
March 16, 2011

Contact:
Dena Libner
Director of Communications
Office of Councilman Vincent Gentile
(646) 335-3692

DOF ADOPTS COUNCILMAN GENTILE’S

PARKING TICKET ADJUDICATION REFORM

CITY HALL−The Department of Finance reformed part of its parking ticket adjudication
procedure, adopting a suggestion made by Councilman Vincent Gentile to DOF
Commissioner Frankel.

In 2010, Councilman Gentile drafted a letter to the agency requesting that practices, which
Councilman Gentile believed to be excessively punitive to drivers, be changed in the name of
fairness and reason.

In response, the Department of Finance ended a practice earlier this month that required
drivers to pay the fine associated with a ticket before appealing that ticket. Many drivers
resented this practice, believing that a payment to the Department made the reversal of the
original administrative law judge’s decision unlikely.

Thanks to the adopted reform, drivers can now request an appeal before paying any fines. In
most cases, appeals are expected to be heard within 30 days and before any late penalties for
non-payment of the original fine are issued. If the date an appeal is heard extends beyond 30
days and late penalties are issued, residents can request that the administrative law judge
hearing their appeal dismiss the late fees even if the original ticket is not dismissed.

“This is a small but important step toward making the system about fairness instead of
punishment,” Councilman Gentile said. “I am thrilled that the Department of Finance and I
see eye-to-eye on this issue, and I hope that this is just one of many victories for drivers to
come.”

In December 2011, Councilman Gentile and Department of Finance Commissioner David

Frankel agreed on a series of reforms regarding the agency’s parking ticket adjudication
process:

 Requiring a detailed explanation from administrative law judges who choose to

uphold a ticket rather than dismiss it;
  Reversing the agency’s practice of requiring payment of fines prior to an appeal
being considered;
 Reversing the agency’s practice of issuing late penalties on tickets when an appeal is
pending;
 Updating the online appeals system so that photos can be submitted as evidence.

The second Gentile reform (“Reversing the agency’s practice of requiring payment of fines
prior to an appeal being considered”) was implemented this month. Councilman Gentile is
considering legislation to bar the Department of Finance from issuing late fees and
penalties when an appeal is pending.

Commissioner Frankel had also indicated that he was supportive of requiring more detailed
explanations as well as allowing photos to be uploaded as evidence.

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