New York City – A new state law that would have crushed the city’s right to tow cars for unpaid parking violations was changed this week, just days before it was to take effect.
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Mayor Bloomberg – who warned the law would “kill people” as scofflaws freely blocked fire hydrants – had lobbied former Gov. David Paterson to veto the bill late last year.
Paterson signed the bill – his last as governor – because its main intent was to protect people in financial distress from losing modest homes, cars, wedding rings and other personal valuables to creditors.
The effect on the city’s $50 million-a-year scofflaw towing program had been inadvertent, bill sponsors said. The state Senate amended the bill last fall to allow towing to continue, but the Assembly failed to act before the bill hit Paterson’s desk.
With the law set to take effect today, both chambers hastily reversed the matter this week. Gov. Cuomo signed it Wednesday – his first bill signed as governor.
“We’re grateful to the Legislature … and to the governor for acting quickly and in a bipartisan fashion to protect public safety by allowing the towing program to continue,” said Bloomberg lobbyist Micah Lasher.
no prob. i dont have any tickets on my car ,,, if u cant pay dont stay …were u dont belong
In the end… Bloomberg always has it going he’s way!!
Imagine this insanity would of stopped!
Another bloomberg scam. Instead of overturning this law, they should have simply made the law that only when FIRE HYDRANTS are blocked can the city tow.
If his honor is so worried about ‘killing people’ due to parking at hydrants, how about letting NY’s finest and bravest in on the secret.
if the mayor was so concerned then where was he and why did people die in the Dec snow storm its interesting that during the last two snows i saw more plows before it snowed then after our 20 inch snow sorry the dictator is interested in only one thing milking the nyc resident
The continuation of this law won’t stop folks from parking at fire hydrants, but will leave them without a car if they don’t pay the fine. NYC must have rules. Without rules the city would be like the lawless wild west of the 1800’s. You get a summons, fight it or pay up on time. I’m far from a Bloomberg fan, on this matter he is right.
the auctions will be great.plenty of new cars going cheap.
# ‘s 8, 9, 10 Instead of bashing me why don’t you just park legally. I have been real careful but still have recieved a few tickets over the last 40+ years of parking in NYC. I either paid up within the time frame given or pleaded not guilty when knew I was. My last visit to parking violations court resulted in a dismissal because the ticket was flawed and I proved it. The time before involved a summons issued to my car at a meter at a time that I wasn’t there. I pleaded not guilty via the internet with an explaination that made sense…it was dismissed.
You three are angry but who really is right and who really is wrong here. You are all trying to buck a system that can be beaten but you must do it within the rules of THEIR game. Anger at the system will not help. Read up on the rules, learn how to beat the system, such as when a ticket is invalid etc.