City Hall Roundup: Gun Control and Fairness in Parking Enforcement

Bills passed in City Hall in January 2012:

Advocating for Gun Control-- The Council passed a package of three resolutions, on January 4, related to gun control and aimed at stopping the flow of illegal guns into communities.

Resolution 821-A calls on Congress to pass and the President to sign legislation that closes the so-called "gun show loophole," by requiring that background checks be conducted prior to the sale of any gun, regardless of the seller or location.

Resolution 1122-A urges the U.S. Senate and the President to oppose the "National Right to Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011" which would allow a person who is licensed by one state to lawfully carry a concealed handgun into a different state, regardless of the licensing eligibility standards of that state. New York City has implemented certain eligibility standards in relation to concealed handgun permits in an effort to keep our city safe. However these practices would cease to exist if this legislation were to be enacted. This bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2011. But the Senate has not taken action on it.

Resolution 1171 supports the "Gun Trafficking Prevention Act of 2012." This legislation addresses the issue of corrupt gun dealers, straw purchasers and organized gun traffickers by creating the crime of trafficking or assisting in the trafficking of firearms. This piece of legislation also grants the U.S. Attorney General with the authority to impose tough financial penalties and the power to suspend or revoke the license of corrupt gun dealers.

Increasing Fairness in Parking Enforcement-- The Council passed a legislative package of four bills, on January 18, intended to make parking enforcement fairer and to eliminate excessive ticketing in New York City.

Intro 301-A allows drivers who receive tickets for a failure to display a muni-meter receipt to present, in person or by mail, a valid muni-meter receipt with an official start time stamp no later than five minutes after the issuance time of the ticket as an affirmative defense to such a violation.

Intro 490-A would help drivers who receive a parking ticket while in the process of paying for a muni-meter spot. Under the legislation, Traffic Enforcement Agents, with electronic ticket devices, will now be able and require to cancel the ticket immediately, averting the need for New Yorkers to dispute it later, saving them time and effort. This legislation only applies to tickets written electronically, which account for approximately 85 percent of parking tickets written in the city. The Administration would be required to report the number of canceled tickets annually to the Council, which would provide valuable information about any trends.

Intro 610-A would prohibit late fees on parking tickets prior to a determination of liability. Under current law, late fees may start accruing 30 days after a ticket is issued, rather than 30 days after a determination of guilt or innocence is made in these cases. This bill would suspend the accrual of late fees until at least 30 days after a finding of guilt or 30 days after an appeal is decided.

Intro 546-A would end a practice that places adhesive stickers on vehicles purportedly violating alternate side parking rules. These stickers are attached even before motorists are given the chance to prove their innocence. Besides the fact that many people successfully challenge alternate side tickets, cars should not be subject to such a nuisance -- and potential damage -- before a finding of guilt.