BILL NUMBER:S3420                   Revised 06/09/15

TITLE OF BILL:

An act to authorize the city of Jamestown to establish an
administrative tribunal for the adjudication of parking infractions;
and to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation thereto

PURPOSE:

Authorizes the city of Jamestown to establish an administrative
tribunal for the adjudication of parking infractions.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Adds a new section of law to allow the city of Jamestown to
establish an administrative tribunal for the adjudication of parking
infractions in accordance with the provisions of Article 2-B of the
Vehicle and Traffic Law. It also authorizes the city of Jamestown,
through a commissioner as defined in subdivision 1 of section 236 of
the Vehicle and Traffic Law, to provide for the appointment of hearing
examiners for such administrative adjudications in accordance with the
provisions of subdivision 2 of section 236 of the Vehicle and Traffic
Law.

Section 2. Amends paragraph d of subdivision 2 of section 236 of the
              

Vehicle and Traffic Law to allow hearing examiners in the city of
Jamestown, like the city of New York, to be admitted to practice law
in New York State for a period of three years instead of five years,
which is otherwise required for hearing examiners under the Vehicle
and Traffic Law.

Section 3. Provides that this act shall take effect immediately.

JUSTIFICATION:

Parking tickets in the City of Jamestown are currently handled by the
City Court, which takes up the valuable time of Jamestown's two city
court judges and their personnel. These tickets are rarely adjudicated
because of the more serious criminal cases and infractions pending in
the Jamestown City Court.

Because these tickets are not adjudicated, the City of Jamestown loses
a significant amount of revenue each year. This bill would help the
City of Jamestown adjudicate approximately $300,000 in delinquent
parking infractions.

The Jamestown City Council requested this legislation on March 24,
2015, in Resolution Number 201503A06. The City is seeking this bill to
reduce City Court case backlogs, increase traffic infraction penalty
collections, establish a more efficient way to manage the parking
ticket system, and to establish a system whereby motorists would more
consistently abide by the parking laws established by the City. The
City does not anticipate increased costs to residents in their budget
to establish and operate the program. They plan to do so with existing
staff and resources.


Also, in its February 2015 City of Jamestown Comprehensive Review
Report, the Financial Restructuring Board for Local Governments
recommended legislative approval of the establishment of an
administrative tribunal for adjudicating parking infractions in the
City of Jamestown. In support of the administrative tribunal, the
Board cited the significant backlog caused by the lack of time and
resources that judges are able to dedicate to the adjudication of
parking tickets through the City Court.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2014: S.5124/A.7429 Passed Senate 57-1, Referred to Assembly
Transportation
2013: S.5124/A.7429 Passed Senate 62-1, Referred to Assembly
Transportation

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None to the State.

LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

The city of Jamestown anticipates an increase in its collection of
parking ticket revenues.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act shall take effect immediately.