Gov. Cuomo Signs into Law Parking Ticket Payment Plans for Those in Debt

By Yehudit Garmaise

  On Dec. 31, 2020, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill into law that permits drivers who cannot pay their parking fines in one lump sum to set up payment plans with the state.

     A parking ticket payment plan is an agreement between drivers and New York’s Department of Finance under which they agree to pay, in smaller installments, the total amount owed for parking tickets.

    Now, instead of facing huge parking ticket debt that has to be paid all at once, drivers’ parking ticket debts are broken down over time in more manageable payments. Drivers who enter into parking ticket payment plans can prevent enforcement actions, such as having their vehicles booted or towed.

    Although parking ticket payment plans will make paying down ticket debt more manageable, the total amounts drivers owe will increase because interest will continue to accrue until the amount you owe is completely paid off. 

    For example, a driver who owes $1,000 and chooses a 24-month payment plan with 9% interest, will end up paying a total of more than $1,100.