Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
City Council

John Liu: Standing Up for Put-Upon Drivers

john_liu_bio_pic.JPGJoining other public officials in the war on parking enforcement, Queens City Council Member John Liu wants to keep drivers sane by changing the rule that permits them to park by a broken meter for one hour. Instead, Liu says, motorists should be allowed to defer to time limits set by street signs.

In an e-mail blast entitled "Parking Rules That Drive People Crazy," Liu staffer Barbara Baruch writes:

The City Council Transportation Committee, chaired by Council Member John Liu, is continuously proposing ways to make parking in New York City "a more civilized experience". One way is to prevent unreasonable parking tickets that chronically plague New Yorkers by clarifying confusing and inconsistent parking regulations such as the "broken meter rule".

The Department of Transportation says the current rule curbs vandalism. At a recent committee hearing, DOT Deputy Commissioner David Woloch testified that "The longer the time is extended, the greater incentive there is for someone to break a meter.” Liu and other council members, including Simcha Felder of Brooklyn, disagree.

"The DOT needs to find better balance," Liu said. "It’s sheerobstinacy to perpetuate the broken meter rule when the rule does notdeter vandals and yet penalizes law-abiding motorists."

Liu has introduced legislation that would do away with the current rule, along with another bill requiring DOT to replace all coin meters with Muni-Meters by July 2010.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Hundreds of Community Groups — From the Conservatives to the Socialists! — Demand Daylighting

Two hundred New York City groups from across the ideological spectrum joined calls to ban parking at corners in order to improve safety and visibility, also known as daylighting.

October 24, 2025

OPINION: Canal Street — Not The Vendors — Is the Problem

If Zohran Mamdani becomes mayor — and is true to his vision for a fair, livable city — he will have to take on this long-ignored corridor. Here's how.

October 24, 2025

Vision Zero Cities: Bicycles Are Not Cars So They Shouldn’t Have to Follow the Same Rules

The default in nearly all states is to impose the same traffic rules on bicycles as on motor vehicles even though the needs of cyclists are so different.

October 24, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: Today’s the Day Edition

Mayor Adams's new 15 mph speed limit is officially goes into effect today. Plus more news.

October 24, 2025

Cough, Cough: DEP Considers Largest Ever Exemption Request to City’s Anti-Idling Law

Academy Bus claims no technological alternatives exist for heating and cooling buses without idling. Advocates warn an exemption would "gut" the city's 50-year-old idling ban.

October 23, 2025

Truckers to US DOT: Busways Are Good for Us!

The federal government has obviously lost its trucking mind.

October 23, 2025
See all posts