Muni-Meter Grace Period Coming In September

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Have you ever returned to your car parked on a New York City street, only to find that your muni-meter receipt just expired and you already have a ticket?

Some relief may be on the way.

WCBS 880's Marla Diamond On The Story

At present, if an agent finds you have gone past the time allotted on your muni-meter receipt, the agent has to write the ticket immediately. Once the ticket is written, it can't simply be voided, even if you find the agent who just wrote it.

"There's no way to invalidate the ticket. You have to have it adjudicated. You have to show up. You have to mail in some kind of statement. You have to supply your slip. You have to do all kinds of homework," Queens City Councilman James Gennaro told WCBS 880 reporter Marla Diamond.

Come September, you'll get a little break, thanks to a measure Gennaro sponsored.

Parking agents will be required to invalidate tickets on the spot if the driver can produce a muni-meter receipt purchased within five minutes of when the ticket was issued.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg actually vetoed the measure out of concern that it would lead to more on-street confrontations with ticket agents, but the City Council overrode that veto.

The move comes as the City Council considers a "portable parking" measure. Under the proposal, if you have unexpired time on your muni-meter slip, you would be able to park elsewhere until the expiration time passes.

Do you like the new policy? Sound off in the comments section below.