Photo Courtesy of Councilwoman Ferreras-Copeland’s Office
The three-month initiative was proposed by Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras-Copeland and approved by Mayor de Blasio in April.
By Forum Staff
Under a three-month amnesty program, New York City’s Department of Finance is forgiving penalties and interest on violations received by individuals and business owners.
Have mercy on us.
The cries of individuals and business owners suffering from what has been viewed as a city wide siege of fines from the Department of Sanitation, Department of Buildings and other City agencies. have finally been heard.
Beginning on September 12th, “Forgiving Fines: The New York City Amnesty Program, an initiative by Council Member Julissa Ferreras-Copeland and approved by Mayor de Blasio in April, is open until Dec. 12, 2016, and covers violations left unpaid that are now in judgment.
A violation in judgment in NYC means that a public record of the liability due on a violation for the entire for the entire amount has been filed against the person or establishment named in the action.
According to the NYC Dept. of Finance, 1.4 million violations have gone into judgment and the last time any penalty relief was offered was back in 2009.
Businesses or individuals with violations in judgment that have been adjudicated by the Environmental Control Board may participate in the New York City Amnesty Program.
The Forgiving Fines initiative provides the following penalty relief:
- Individuals and businesses with judgments containing hearing default penalties can have 100% of the penalties as well as interest forgiven.
- Those who have attended hearings and do not have default penalties only have to pay 75% of the base fine and will also have interest forgiven.
After the amnesty period, individuals and businesses will have to pay 100% of interest and penalties on top of their base fines.
The amnesty program covers violations that require corrective action and those that do not, including:
- Illegal posting of handbill or notice
- Snow, ice or dirt on sidewalk
- Improper storage of receptacles
- Improper or misused recycling containers
- Improper disposal of trash of recyclables
- Failure to comply with an order of the Commissioner
- Failure to properly place recyclables for collection
- Work without a permit
- Failure to conduct required inspections and tests
- Failure to submit affidavits, design/installation or other documents
- Vending merchandise or food in a restricted area
For more information and the most frequently asked questions, visit Forgiving Fines online.
