Greenfield, Quinn and Gentile Tout Measure To Fix Muni-Meters

The war against the machines has begun. Muni-Meters, the electronic parking meters, have a lot of flaws and members of the City Council have been seizing on them.

Some of the biggest problems with meters came after Superstorm Sandy wrecked a whole bunch of them. Despite the presence of malfunctioning machines, the Department of Transportation still ticketed drivers. Without giving any notice or direction, drivers were expected to find the nearest working Muni-Meter and pay, outraging people who received tickets.

Earlier in the month, we reported that Councilman David Greenfield planned to reform Muni-Meters by making them accept payments 30 minutes before the meter regulations went into effect. This would allow people finding parking for work or doctor appointments not to have to wait by a meter once it activates at 9 a.m.

The latest legislation on the meters, set to be introduced to the Council on May 8, will address a number of other annoying Muni-Meter problems, according to a press releases recently fired off by a myriad of local elected officials.

“The meters will automatically shut off and not accept payment at times when drivers are not required to pay for parking at that location. In addition, the machines will not accept payment when it is out of paper needed to print receipts, and will allow drivers to pay for parking beginning one hour before the regulations go into effect,” said one release from Greenfield’s office

Politicians were quick to lend support to Greenfield’s measure.

“Whether you’re doing your laundry or parking your car, you should always get what you pay for. This legislation ensures drivers will no longer pay for parking at a meter, only to find out that this requirement ended 20 minutes earlier. Our legislation will reduce frustration and increase fairness in how we pay for parking,” mayoral hopeful Christine Quinn said at a press conference with Greenfield.

Councilman Vincent Gentile also gave a full-throated endorsement of the proposed legislation.

“I have received numerous complaints from constituents in my district who feed their muni-meter only to learn that it is out of paper or out-of-order altogether after they’ve made their payment. This common sense bill will effectively end that sort of frustration,” Gentile said in a press release.