thedrifter
08-07-07, 05:46 AM
Marine sergeant steps up, pays on 56 White Plains parking tickets
By RICHARD LIEBSON
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original Publication: August 7, 2007)
WHITE PLAINS - Marine recruiters in the city have one less scofflaw within their ranks after a leatherneck sergeant paid 56 parking tickets he had received since last year.
Parking officials confirmed that the recruiter, whose name was not released, paid $860 to have his name removed from the scofflaw list late yesterday morning. The money was paid after City Court Judge Barbara Leak waived the late-fee penalties that could have cost him a total of $2,800.
It was not clear why the fines were dismissed; Leak could not be reached for comment.
"This goes to show that the Marines do not think we're above the law in any way,'' said Gunnery Sgt. Matthew A. Butler, a spokesman for the First Marine Corps District.
"These were personal tickets that he received on a government-owned vehicle. Hopefully this is a step in the right direction and we can continue to make progress with the city of White Plains to resolve this situation.''
The Marines and the White Plains Parking Department have been skirmishing over tickets since December, when The Journal News first reported that recruiters had racked up more than $90,000 in unpaid parking fines on 2,000 tickets issued to government vehicles since 2001. In April, Parking Commissioner Albert Moroni impounded one such car, which he said will be auctioned in September if the money isn't paid.
Although the Constitution prohibits the city from seizing or selling federal property, the Marines have pulled all of their vehicles with unpaid tickets out of White Plains. The impounded car, which remains in a Ferris Avenue parking lot, has 94 unpaid tickets totalling $4,850 in fines.
Butler said the Marines' policy is that recruiters are responsible for tickets they receive. He said the passage of time and turnover at the corps' Post Road recruiting office makes it difficult to determine who is responsible for unpaid tickets that in some cases were issued years ago. Negotiations with the city have resulted in a new procedure that will have the Parking Violations Bureau notify the First Marine Corps District command of tickets issued each month, to keep tabs on individual recruiters.
Butler also noted that 75 percent of the money owed by the corps represents fines and late fees.
"We are going to continue to talk to White Plains and we will come up with a solution,'' he said.
Deputy Parking Commissioner John Larson did not return a message seeking comment.
Ellie
By RICHARD LIEBSON
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original Publication: August 7, 2007)
WHITE PLAINS - Marine recruiters in the city have one less scofflaw within their ranks after a leatherneck sergeant paid 56 parking tickets he had received since last year.
Parking officials confirmed that the recruiter, whose name was not released, paid $860 to have his name removed from the scofflaw list late yesterday morning. The money was paid after City Court Judge Barbara Leak waived the late-fee penalties that could have cost him a total of $2,800.
It was not clear why the fines were dismissed; Leak could not be reached for comment.
"This goes to show that the Marines do not think we're above the law in any way,'' said Gunnery Sgt. Matthew A. Butler, a spokesman for the First Marine Corps District.
"These were personal tickets that he received on a government-owned vehicle. Hopefully this is a step in the right direction and we can continue to make progress with the city of White Plains to resolve this situation.''
The Marines and the White Plains Parking Department have been skirmishing over tickets since December, when The Journal News first reported that recruiters had racked up more than $90,000 in unpaid parking fines on 2,000 tickets issued to government vehicles since 2001. In April, Parking Commissioner Albert Moroni impounded one such car, which he said will be auctioned in September if the money isn't paid.
Although the Constitution prohibits the city from seizing or selling federal property, the Marines have pulled all of their vehicles with unpaid tickets out of White Plains. The impounded car, which remains in a Ferris Avenue parking lot, has 94 unpaid tickets totalling $4,850 in fines.
Butler said the Marines' policy is that recruiters are responsible for tickets they receive. He said the passage of time and turnover at the corps' Post Road recruiting office makes it difficult to determine who is responsible for unpaid tickets that in some cases were issued years ago. Negotiations with the city have resulted in a new procedure that will have the Parking Violations Bureau notify the First Marine Corps District command of tickets issued each month, to keep tabs on individual recruiters.
Butler also noted that 75 percent of the money owed by the corps represents fines and late fees.
"We are going to continue to talk to White Plains and we will come up with a solution,'' he said.
Deputy Parking Commissioner John Larson did not return a message seeking comment.
Ellie