Gentile’s new legislation makes cents to drivers

Councilmember Vincent Gentile introduced a piece of legislation in the City Council on May 31 that would suspend parking meter regulations citywide on days when the city suspends alternate side of the street parking rules.

Gentile said the law is part of his “Common-Sense Agenda.”

“If you don’t have to move your car, why do you have to feed the meter?” he asked. “If alternate side parking is suspended on holidays, why aren’t parking meters also suspended? It doesn’t make sense and it’s confusing.”

The councilmember‘s office has gotten several calls from motorists, stating that they were confused by the rules and parked at a meter without paying during a holiday. They were ticketed.

“We just thought this was another ‘gotcha’ thing that happens to motorists often,” Gentile told this paper. “We want to make [the laws] consistent.

Drivers from all over the city – all of whom just happened to be in Bay Ridge — welcomed the news.

“I would agree with that,” said Linda Martin, who grew up in Bay Ridge but now lives on Staten Island. “I think it’s a good idea to give drivers a break on worrying about a meter.”

Mike B., who lives in Harlem, simply said, “That would be a good thing.”

Cliff A., who lives in Queens, also greeted the news. “I feel good about it,” he said.

“It is my responsibility to make sure that residents are safeguarded against being made targets of ticketing agents who want to close the city’s budget gap on the backs of taxpayers,” Gentile added. “Instead of making people partners in keeping our streets safe, they are being treated like ATMs for the city’s insatiable coffers.”

A hearing date has not been set for the City Council Committee on Transportation to hear the new legislation.