Article from: www.thenewspaper.com/news/13/1304.asp

8/24/2006

New York City Councilmen Fight Back Against Tickets
Two New York City, New York councilmen call for an investigation of the Department of Finance red light camera and parking ticket practices.

Two New York City councilmen are calling for an investigation of the city Department of Finance regarding its treatment of the motoring public. Councilman Vincent Gentile (D-Brooklyn) yesterday presented a $115 check to the pastor of Saint Andrew the Apostle Church as a way to apologize for the department's treatment of Father Cletus Forson who had been given a parking ticket after rushing to the hospital to administer the last rites to a dying woman. Fr Forson is asking the city to reconsider its decision.

"While the City drags its feet, I feel it immediately necessary to right this wrong and give their church back their money," Gentile said. "I am confident that with further review of the case that the decision will be overturned and the city will refund the church's money."

Councilman David Weprin (D-Queens) joined his colleague and called on the city to change its ways.

"During the 2002 Fiscal Crisis, the City began issuing additional tickets to raise money," Weprin said. "Today, however, we are coming off a multi-billion dollar surplus where excessive and senseless ticketing substantially diminishes the quality of life for all New Yorkers."

Gentile also cited the Department of Finance's treatment of Ohio resident Lisa Sims, which he had read in an exclusive story on TheNewspaper. The Department had accused Sims of running a red light in New York, a city she had never visited, and forced her to prove her own innocence.

"No apology for their obvious error or for the huge waste of my time," Sims said this morning. "But I guess I really didn't expect one."