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Class Action Suit Targets DMV For Fining Cyclists As If They're Drivers
By
John Del Signore
Published Sep 16, 2014
Modified Sep 16, 2014
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By
John Del Signore
Published Sep 16, 2014
Modified Sep 16, 2014
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In addition to paying the same hefty fines for traffic violations as motorists, cyclists caught in the NYPD's "Safe Cycle" crackdown have also been forced to pay a bogus $88 surcharge, plus accept additional points on their license. New York Vehicle and Traffic law explicitly exempts cyclists from this surcharge, but summonses issued to cyclists nevertheless inform them that “included in the total amount for each violation (except equipment) are mandatory surcharges in the amount of $88." Most cyclists just pay it, but a new lawsuit could result in refunds for those who thought the "mandatory" surcharges were in fact mandatory.
After attorney Steve Vaccaro raised the issue with the DMV, he was told by a DMV lawyer that he was correct—"there are no points assigned for violations committed by bicyclists,” and that the law “exempts bicycle violations from the mandatory surcharge." The DMV agreed to refund the handful of clients Vaccaro was then representing, and remove the points from their licenses. And yet... the surcharge language remains, and most people who pay their fine online remain oblivious to the DMV's unorthodox definition of "mandatory."
Vaccaro has filed a growing class action lawsuit on behalf of cyclists who may have been unfairly overcharged while paying a ticket. "I'm encouraged to see the DMV acknowledge its error in treating so many cycling tickets as if they were motor vehicle violations," Vaccaro says. "Alongside the class action, we have made a Freedom of Information Law request to the DMV that should help us get a better handle on exactly how many thousands of cyclists have been affected. In the end, we hope to get a refund to every cyclist who's been overcharged going back at least three years, possibly longer."
If you believe you may have paid the unlawful DMV surcharge for a bicycling ticket, or gotten points on your license for a violation while bicycling, you could be in for a CASH PAYOUT (SOMEDAY). Vaccaro encourages you to contact his office with a short description of your circumstances as soon as possible.
Tagged
class-action
cyclists
dmv
operation safe cycle
tickets
original
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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