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Video: Motorist Fined, Despite Broken Meter

CROWN HEIGHTS [CH] — Driving in New York City gives most motorists a stomachache just thinking about taking their car out, and parking? Forget about it! This motorist got a ticket for parking at an expired meter, even though it was broken.

For this motorist it was especially frustrating. After finding parking near 770, the motorist got out to feed the meter, but was unable to because it was jammed. That little fact did not seem to bother the traffic cop who wrote out the $35 fine despite being shown that the meter was in fact jammed!

The driver had the presence of mind to pull out his iPhone and take a video of the encounter in which he clearly demonstrated how the meter was broken, while the traffic agent was still writing out the ticket.

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29 Comments

  • Cameras rule, take out yours

    The war of Cameras. This guy did the best thing possible.

    LEARN FROM THIS GUY RECORD RECORD RECORD….. IT CAN ONLY HELP YOU

  • SHAME ON THE NYPD

    GOOD JOB RECOURDER. BAD JOB COP. UR A STINKER. AND THIS IS WHAT MAKES THE NYPD LOOK BAD AND PEPOLE HAVE NO RESPECT FOR THEM

  • Publisize

    You should definitely put this on YOU TUBE .
    Everyone should be aware of how stupid , insane and unjust these cops can be .

  • anti-traffic cop

    this animal’s name is “SERVICE”. cant make out the badge number though. anyone else have any better luck?

  • levi

    i got a ticket on the same exact meter on Thursday (which i put a note stating that it was broken meter) …but there is nothing i can proof since i didn’t get the ticket when the low life gave the ticket and i didn’t have a camera like this guy …

    I LIVE IN BROOKLYN ALL MY LIFE AND I HATEEEEE THE HECK OUT OF THIS PLACE BECAUSE NY CITY IS ALWAYS OUT TO GET INNOCENT CIVILIANS INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON THE CRIME THAT GOES ON EVERY SINGLE DAY …ESPECIALLY IN C.H.

  • Eli B.

    I had 2 tickets (like a year apart),they I got for expired meters, although they were clearly not working. I just sent ticket back stating the problem. After sometime they just dismissed them.

    I have a feeling that city has a record of broken meters and they just verify their data with your claim.

    So don’t worry. You should be fine. Just send it back with explanation in back of that ticket.

  • fdafsgd

    i got a ticket just like this.. sent in my defense but still found guilty. Even after appealing the decision, with a picture of the broken meter, the city of new york still found me guilty and i had to pay the fine. BS

  • expose the corruption!

    Send the video into those TV news programs where ordinary people complain about things. they’ll love it!

  • Another broken meter

    Got a ticket at the corner of Kingston and Carroll for the same thing a coin is blocking the meter from feeding coins into it.
    I reported it to the city that the meter was stuffed and they reported back that the meter was working properly they never inspected it because it is still stuffed now

  • rdz

    it seems that the police officer was unaware of the law. a person is allowed to park at a broken meter as long as you would normally be able to park if the meter were working. See this link for info and how to dispute the ticket.

    http://www.newyorkparkingti…

  • Not Surprised

    I got a ticket once when there was still time on the meter! I showed the cop, and he just continued writing the ticket. I fought it, appealed it and still had to pay. They don’t care they just want to fill their ticket quota

  • Fighting for our rights to park

    You can report a broken meter (try doing it through 311) and then fight the ticket. It worked for me. Also remember that the @#$% ticketing “officer” gets credit for the ticket whether it is dismissed or not, so they just don’t care about you as they celebrate their score. I have been ticketed for being parked during alternate side hours well after the time, but b“h it was dismissed. Be careful not to take the ”plea deal” that they now automatically offer if you were in the right.

  • very easy to dispute

    I got parking tickets 1 and 3 years ago.
    both times disputed them online although did not have any video and just said that the meter was broker once, and second time that i came 2 minutes late after cleaning rules got into effect, although by my watch i was in time.
    in both cases tickets were dismissed after 1-2 month.

    November 24, 2010 3:42pm

  • Not a New Yorker

    The law where I live is that it is illegal to park at a broken meter. This makes sense. When you put money in a meter it is for a certain limited amount of time. If the meter is not functioning properly there is no way to determine how long a vehicle has been parked at the same location. If a meter takes money and does not return it, you have a legitimate case. If a meter is not functioning, find another meter and report the broken meter to the proper authority. This information is indicated on the meter or else can be found by normal means.
    If you are considerate of others, put a note on the meter so no one else does’t waste time or money.
    PS: If the officer was this close you should have been alert enough to call to him as soon as you inserted the coin and noticed the meter was jammed. This video does not show the expected sequence of you finding the meter jammed, returning to your car, noticing that the officer was inspecting the meter and then giving you a ticket. It gives the appearance that you could have been walking away, noticed him giving you a ticket, tried to get his attention and the began shooting while protesting the ticket.

  • Happened to me

    The same exact thing happened to me a few weeks ago near the Pizza shop. I’m still waiting to see if it will get dismissed.

  • Milhouse

    #20, that makes no sense at all. Just because you can’t determine how long a car has been at a spot, is that a reason why the spot should go to waste altogether? What good will that do? Suppose someone does park there for a long time; how is that worse than nobody parking there at all? That would just be a waste of a precious spot. And your advice to “just find another meter” is pathetic; where exactly should he have found it? What makes you imagine there’s another empty space within a reasonable distance?

  • same thing happened to me

    I got a ticket also parked on kinston and crown with a jammed meter

  • c.h.er

    Is it illegal to walk in front of these cops with a bunch of quarters and feed the expired meters?

    I was doing it the other day and they told me i cant!

  • not a new yorker

    #22 and # 23
    I am a Lubavitch woman from a large Souther metropolitan area. Parking meters are amost everywhere here and can cost more than garage parking and there is often a limit to how much you can deposit so you have to go back to refill the meter. It is often very difficult to find a convenient parking a spot particularly if you are near medical offices or a shopping area other than a large mall. We have many stores and office in older neighborhoods very much like Crown Heights and other parts of Brooklyn. Many have a 15 minute limit in freight zones and parking there is only for commercially licenced vehicles. In many neighborhoods such as these and near hospitals and universities there is a 2 hour limit for non-residents or resident only parking. I am a member of a Chabad community near two large universities. The only time parking is easy is when they are not in session. So, yes, I do understand your frustration but not the chutzpadich attitude of entitlement to park wherever you want whenever you want for as long as you want.

  • no respect!

    These cops are here to help you! Chasidei Umos Haolom! Where’s the respect they deserve?

  • Milhouse

    #27, the sad thing is I can’t tell whether you’re being sarcastic or serious. Occasionally a cop does help, and overall they may do more good than harm, but they are NOT chassidei umos ho’olom, or even close. They harass and persecute people, and think they are kings and all must bow down to them. Mamash “eved ki yimloch”.