New York officials are considering enforcing a new proposal that will compensate civilians for reporting bike-lane violations.
According to Lincoln Restler, a city council member, the New York City Police Department hasn’t been handing out enough tickets. To combat this, the Department of Transportation is reviewing the newly proposed bill.
If passed, the bill would pay individuals who submit evidence of a parking violation 25% of the $175 ticket.
“I feel the safety risks every day that are associated with illegal parking,” Restler said. “It’s even more problematic for the parent pushing a stroller or a person in a wheelchair who can’t get by on the sidewalk because of illegally parked cars. That’s why we are creating, in this legislation, a new structure to bring real accountability.”
However, Sarah Kaufman, interim executive director of the New York University Rudin Center for Transportation, believes the bill could cause issues amongst residents.
“Wealthier residents tend to call in more and report issues,” Kaufman explained. “In every city that has a 311 system it tends to be whiter, wealthier residents who are calling.”
In addition, the bill would create a new violation and civil penalty. The violation charge would include hazardous obstruction by a vehicle of a bicycle lane, bus lane, sidewalk, crosswalk, or fire hydrant when the vehicle is located within a distance of 1,320 feet of a school building, entrance, or exit.
The bill would also require the DOT to create a civilian reporting program. The program will allow civilians to submit complaints and supporting evidence for alleged violations to DOT.
