City Council Passes Bill Doubling Fines For Landlords Found Guilty Of Harassing Tenants

NEW YORK (AP) -- The City Council has passed a bill that doubles the fines for landlords found guilty of tenant harassment.

Tuesday's vote also forces those landlords to be publicly listed as offenders on the Department of Housing Preservation and Development's website.

Tenant harassment includes withholding building repairs or other services in an attempt to force tenants out of their homes or when a landlord physically threatens or intimidates a tenant. The maximum fine increases to $10,000 per residential unit. Council Members Margaret Chin (D-1st) and Jumaane Williams (D-45th) sponsored the bill.

City legislators on Tuesday also passed the ``Justice for Hit-and-Run Victims Act.'' The bill establishes civil penalties of up to $10,000 for drivers who flee the scene of a collision. The bill was sponsored by Council Members Jimmy Van Bramer (D-26th) and Ydanis Rodriguez (D-10th.)

(Copyright 2014 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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