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NYC to dismiss most delayed B44 SBS bus-lane tickets

Posted by Gold_12th on Wed Jul 30 21:25:09 2014

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The city is backing down after sending out a flurry of long-delayed traffic violations.

Drivers suddenly began receiving a wave of summonses they accumulated in the three months since the city activated surveillance cameras to ticket drivers who used the dedicated bus lanes created for the new B44 Select Bus Service.

When locals realized that they had racked up as much as $7,000 in fines before they realized enforcement had begun, they reached out to Councilman Chaim Deutsch (D–Sheepshead Bay), who appealed to the Department of Transportation to void the tardy tickets.

“It is common sense they should do it,” said Deutsch. “Getting summonses three months later is not normal.”

Fortunately for the drivers, common sense prevailed, and the city has agreed to dismiss all but drivers’ first violation from March 17 to July 25 — and drivers who have already paid multiple tickets can expect a refund.

“Recognizing this was the city’s newest SBS route, we understand it might take time for motorists to adjust to the regulations,” said Scott Gastel, press secretary for the department. “For those who recently received multiple violations from the spring, DOT will dismiss all but the first violation issued within the March 17–July 25 timeframe. Refunds will be issued to those who have already paid.”

Locals facing thousands of dollars in fines are thrilled by the ticket dismissal. One resident, whose family had 13 tickets and expected even more, said it almost seems too good to be true.

“Wow — I can’t even believe it,” said Yelena Vasilenko of Sheepshead Bay. “It is like a movie.”

David Oliel of Coney Island expected nearly $7,000 in tickets and had already paid $700, but now he’s jumping for joy — literally.

“I was jumping,” said Oliel of the moments after he heard about the reprive. “I started screaming — it is a big break.”

Now, instead of worrying about thousands of dollars of debt, Oliel is planning how he will spend the money he thought was going towards tickets.

“My son — soon, he is getting married,” said Oliel. “We’re going to use the money for his wedding.”

Deutsch first pointed out the issue to the city last week, and he said he was pleased by the swift response.

“When I brought this injustice to the attention of the Department of Finance and the Department of Transportation, I was impressed by the quick positive response I received,” he said.

The dedicated lanes for the B44 Select Bus Service were created last November, but enforcement didn’t begin until March 17 —four months later, leaving drivers lots of time to develop bad habits. Some drivers complained that the long delay between starting enforcement and sending the tickets unfairly lulled them into thinking that they could continue to use the bus lanes consequence-free.

“If I got the ticket a week later — or even a month later — I’d stop right away,” said Aron Rosenbaum of Williamsburg, who received 25 tickets — at one point getting eight tickets in one day.

Rosenbaum said he’s relieved to hear about the city’s promise to dismiss most of his tickets, but he remains wary until the violations are off his record.

“I’m not as nervous as I was last week,” said Rosenbaum. “When I see it, I’ll believe it — I don’t want to get disappointed.”

http://www.brooklyndaily.com/stories/2014/31/all-update-bus-lane-ticket-blitz-2014-08-01-bk_2014_31.html

This gives a whole new meaning to the term “ticket blitz.”

Months after the city activated surveillance cameras to ticket drivers who used the dedicated bus lanes created for the new B44 Select Bus Service, the tickets are finally arriving in the mail — shocking some drivers with thousands of dollars in fines.

Aron Rosenbaum of Williamsburg has received 25 tickets so far, at one point getting eight tickets in one day.

“It’s a very bad feeling,” said Rosenbaum.

The dedicated lanes were painted along the B44 Select Bus route stretching from Sheepshead Bay to Williamsburg in late November last year, but drivers were allowed to continue using the bus lanes consequence-free for nearly four months before the city switched on a series of cameras on March 17 to start photographing license plates and automatically issue $115 tickets for each violation.

But the process wasn’t quite automatic enough, since the first tickets only started arriving in late June — about three months after enforcement quietly began.

Many drivers are stunned by the staggering fines they’ve racked up for their long-forgotten infractions — and they’re crying foul over the long delay. Rosenbaum said that if he had gotten his first ticket sooner, he would have known enforcement had started and he would have avoided the lane before his fines mounted.

“If I got the ticket a week later — or even a month later — I’d stop right away,” said Rosenbaum. “All of a sudden, I have already more than three grand in tickets.”

Yelena Vasilenko of Sheepshead Bay, who received a ticket dated March 19 at the end of June, also complained that she didn’t know that the city had started issuing tickets until her family had accumulated months of violations.

Making matters worse, drivers are fined by each camera along the borough-spanning route, so many of Vasilenko’s tickets are just minutes apart. With thirteen tickets already and more arriving every few days, she said her husband dreads checking the mail each morning.

“He does not want to open the mailbox,” Vasilenko said.

David Oliel of Coney Island said he didn’t drive the route often, but he lets his friend borrow his car to drive neighborhood kids to a yeshiva in that area — and as the owner of the vehicle, Oliel is responsible for all tickets. He went through the calendar and counted up all the carpool days to calculate how many fines he’ll be liable for.

“I know it is going to be 50 or 60 tickets — maybe more,” said Oliel, who has already paid around $700 of the nearly $7,000 in tickets he expects to receive. “They’re still coming.”

Councilman Chaim Deutsch (D–Sheepshead Bay) said he has asked the Department of Transportation to void the months-old tickets because of their delayed arrival.

“It is common sense they should do it,” said Deutsch. “Getting summonses three months later is not normal.”

But a spokeswoman for the agency said the Department of Finance handles disputed tickets on an individual basis.

“Motorists who believe they received one in error can look to have it adjudicated through the Department of Finance,” she said.

Unfortunately, a three-month lag in issuing a ticket apparently is not enough of an error to sway judges in traffic court. Both Oliel and Vasilenko say they’ve tried to fight the tickets, but were summarily rebuffed.

The Department of Transportation could not explain why the tickets were delayed for so long, but the agency nonetheless insists that the fines must be paid on time

“The 30 day period begins the date the Notice of Violation is issued, not the date of the violation,” she said.

Updated 2:23 pm, July 28, 2014: The Department of Transportation has decided to temporarily suspend mailing out violations along the B44 SBS route that occurred between March 17 and July 25. The agency will dismiss all but the first violation issued during that timeframe, and refunds will be issued to those who have already paid.

http://www.brooklyndaily.com/stories/2014/31/all-bus-lane-ticket-blitz-2014-08-01-bk_2014_31.html

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Re: NYC to dismiss most delayed B44 SBS bus-lane tickets

Posted by displaced angeleno on Wed Jul 30 21:57:43 2014, in response to NYC to dismiss most delayed B44 SBS bus-lane tickets, posted by Gold_12th on Wed Jul 30 21:25:09 2014.

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This is ridiculous. These drivers admit to breaking the law, repeatedly, but are now claiming that because the tickets didn't arrive fast enough, they shouldn't have to pay?

"Yeah, I block buses, and unfairly drive around other traffic by illegally using the bus lane, but if I knew there would be consequences for my actions, I wouldn't have behaved so poorly over and over and over again!"

Drivers in this country have it so easy, kill with impunity, and are such crybabies. A la Helen Lovejoy: Won't somebody please think of the drivers?!?

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Re: NYC to dismiss most delayed B44 SBS bus-lane tickets

Posted by Gold_12th on Wed Jul 30 22:11:50 2014, in response to Re: NYC to dismiss most delayed B44 SBS bus-lane tickets, posted by displaced angeleno on Wed Jul 30 21:57:43 2014.

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Welcome to USA.

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Re: NYC to dismiss most delayed B44 SBS bus-lane tickets

Posted by New Flyer #857 on Thu Jul 31 07:35:46 2014, in response to Re: NYC to dismiss most delayed B44 SBS bus-lane tickets, posted by displaced angeleno on Wed Jul 30 21:57:43 2014.

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I'm all for penalties against lawbreakers but I think they have a good case regarding the delay in enforcement. Imagine if at this moment you were punished for every crime you ever committed in your life. So every time you jaywalked, every time you went above the speed limit (if you drive), every time you (fill in the blank). . .and you have to pay it all now because you found out they caught you.

Unfortunately, for many laws are not applicable if they are not enforced. But one fine payment for the violations should be enough to ensure that these drivers do not intentionally repeat their behavior.

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Re: NYC to dismiss most delayed B44 SBS bus-lane tickets

Posted by Terrapin Station on Thu Jul 31 09:13:16 2014, in response to Re: NYC to dismiss most delayed B44 SBS bus-lane tickets, posted by displaced angeleno on Wed Jul 30 21:57:43 2014.

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iawtp

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Re: NYC to dismiss most delayed B44 SBS bus-lane tickets

Posted by displaced angeleno on Thu Jul 31 12:06:33 2014, in response to Re: NYC to dismiss most delayed B44 SBS bus-lane tickets, posted by New Flyer #857 on Thu Jul 31 07:35:46 2014.

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That's a fair point. However, we are talking about a delay of three months for actions that impose costs on others (delaying bus drivers, forcing merges whenever these drivers encounter a bus in the bus lane, and risking the lives of pedestrians not expecting cars in the lane). If this were several years, I'd be a bit more sympathetic.

In the spirit of compromise, how about adjourning the traffic actions in contemplation of a dismissal? The charges are not dismissed outright, and no fines will be assessed, but if another comparable traffic infraction is committed, all of the tickets and their fines will be reinstated for a given driver.

I never learned how to drive, so I've never committed a traffic or parking infraction, but I do ride my bike to work every day. Knowing the danger that I pose to pedestrians, and the importance of setting an example of following the law to encourage drivers to do the same, I ride below the speed limit, yield to pedestrians at all crosswalks, marked and unmarked, stop at all stop signs, and wait at all red lights.

It's easy to get away with breaking traffic rules in New York, but if we are committed to having fewer traffic deaths, we all have to obey the letter of the law.

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Re: NYC to dismiss most delayed B44 SBS bus-lane tickets

Posted by Terrapin Station on Thu Jul 31 14:05:18 2014, in response to Re: NYC to dismiss most delayed B44 SBS bus-lane tickets, posted by displaced angeleno on Thu Jul 31 12:06:33 2014.

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I never learned how to drive
Oh man, you have no idea what you're missing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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