Don’t pay the fine, and you can’t park on the taxpayers’ dime.
Three members of the City Council found that out the hard way when their official government parking permits weren’t renewed because records showed they had unsettled summonses.
The amounts involved weren’t huge. But in two instances, the tickets were months overdue and in judgment. It didn’t take long for each legislator to pay up when contacted by The Post.
Steve Levin (D-Brooklyn) ponied up $630 to wipe out eight summonses accumulated between Jan. 11 and April 2 for four different infractions: missing or expired inspection sticker; missing equipment; failure to display muni meter receipts and parking in a no-standing zone.
“Like many New Yorkers who own a car, I’m acutely aware how quickly these things add up,” he said when asked about the pile of violations. “I have paid all my tickets as of now.”
Levin, who represents Greenpoint and Williamsburg, has had a rough few months on the car front. First, his Honda was stolen. After it was recovered, one of the side mirrors was broken, resulting in two tickets when he didn’t repair it quickly enough.
Debi Rose (D-Staten Island) was snared by a red-light camera Aug. 10, 2011.
An aide said she didn’t pay the $75 fine immediately because she was fighting the ticket. But records show the summons was in judgment, meaning she lost her case and owed the money. The same was true for Ruben Wills (D-Queens), who didn’t resolve a double-parking ticket from Nov. 8, 2011, until last week.
Wills said he received the ticket in an emergency situation. He said he spotted a crowd of about 100 people gathered at a gas-station fire on Rockaway Boulevard and pulled over and double-parked to find out what was going on.
“It was totally in commission of my job,” he said. “I thought I was in the right.”
A hearing officer thought otherwise. Wills has since paid the $177 fine. “Official business” parking placards are among the most prized perks of public office. They entitle a driver to park a vehicle virtually anywhere, except for hydrants and bus stops.
Records obtained by The Post through the Freedom of Information Law show that City Hall distributed 337 permits this year, including 72 to community board officials; 33 within the mayor’s office; 48 at the City Council; 41 to city marshals; 18 to members of the state Senate; 36 to the Assembly and six to members of Congress.