What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? New York, New York
Over many months, the City of New York has been replacing its many old-fashioned parking meters with "Muni Meters." These new Muni Meters supposedly offer motorists the convenience of paying with a credit card.
When the meters are working properly, a motorist inserts his or her credit card and then selects the amount of time he or she is purchasing. The Muni Meter will then display the message "Contacting Bank For Approval." If the card is "Approved" then a receipt is printed with the expiration time. The motorist must then leave the receipt on the vehicle's dashboard so that it is readable through the windshield. Credit card is listed as a payment option on any meter's rate placard, and is specified by NYC law.
On numerous occasions during this past year, I have tried to pay at a Muni Meter with a credit card and the display reads "Processing Error" and then "Transaction Finished." It seems that the Muni Meter wireless network has had a chronic recurring problem with authorizing credit cards, and DOT is aware of this and has said so in emails to me.
When a Muni Meter failed like I described, I called NYC's info number (311) on my cell phone. I filed a complaint and submitted a service request, and got a confirmation number each time. I placed a hand-written note on the dashboard that read "Muni Meter #xxx-xxxx Broken mm/dd/yy. Complaint Filed #c1-1-xxxxxxxxxx. On most of these occasions, I didn't get a ticket. But on two occasions, I did get tickets. The charge was the same both times: failure to display a Muni Meter receipt.
The first time, I pleaded Not Guilty online, describing my call to 311 and the service request number. The ticket was dismissed.
But on the other occasion, after I pleaded Not Guilty online, the ALJ declared that I AM guilty, because a check of the Muni Meter (at a later date) showed it to be in good working order.
I am currently appealing this decision. I have described the Muni Meter credit card problem, sent in photos of a Muni Meter failing as described, confirmation from NYC of the complaint, including an admission from the DOT of the Muni Meter system failure, my cell phone record of that call, and the legal precedent from the previous case.
I am hopeful that I will prevail.
nysal01
Over many months, the City of New York has been replacing its many old-fashioned parking meters with "Muni Meters." These new Muni Meters supposedly offer motorists the convenience of paying with a credit card.
When the meters are working properly, a motorist inserts his or her credit card and then selects the amount of time he or she is purchasing. The Muni Meter will then display the message "Contacting Bank For Approval." If the card is "Approved" then a receipt is printed with the expiration time. The motorist must then leave the receipt on the vehicle's dashboard so that it is readable through the windshield. Credit card is listed as a payment option on any meter's rate placard, and is specified by NYC law.
On numerous occasions during this past year, I have tried to pay at a Muni Meter with a credit card and the display reads "Processing Error" and then "Transaction Finished." It seems that the Muni Meter wireless network has had a chronic recurring problem with authorizing credit cards, and DOT is aware of this and has said so in emails to me.
When a Muni Meter failed like I described, I called NYC's info number (311) on my cell phone. I filed a complaint and submitted a service request, and got a confirmation number each time. I placed a hand-written note on the dashboard that read "Muni Meter #xxx-xxxx Broken mm/dd/yy. Complaint Filed #c1-1-xxxxxxxxxx. On most of these occasions, I didn't get a ticket. But on two occasions, I did get tickets. The charge was the same both times: failure to display a Muni Meter receipt.
The first time, I pleaded Not Guilty online, describing my call to 311 and the service request number. The ticket was dismissed.
But on the other occasion, after I pleaded Not Guilty online, the ALJ declared that I AM guilty, because a check of the Muni Meter (at a later date) showed it to be in good working order.
I am currently appealing this decision. I have described the Muni Meter credit card problem, sent in photos of a Muni Meter failing as described, confirmation from NYC of the complaint, including an admission from the DOT of the Muni Meter system failure, my cell phone record of that call, and the legal precedent from the previous case.
I am hopeful that I will prevail.
nysal01
Last edited: