Gothamist covers efforts to stop DMV from unlawfully penalizing cyclists with motorist-only penalties, led by Steve Vaccaro, counsel to a putative class of thousands of New York cyclists
We have entered Week Two of the Operation Safe Cycle ticketing blitz, in which officers park in bike lanes and then ticket cyclists for whatever. Generally, this is business as usual, but here’s a fresh twist on an old favorite: Cyclists who opt to pay their tickets online are now given an $88 bonus surcharge, plus additional undeserved points on their license.
According to Steve Vaccaro, the city’s preeminent cycling rights attorney, the DMV appears to be using the same online form filled out by drivers paying off moving violations. This form, however, conveniently ignores the fact that cyclists are exempt from the surcharge and additional points to which their driving counterparts are subject. Vaccaro’s firm sent the department a cease and desist letter, but have not yet received a response.
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