New Yorkers Can Now Contest Tickets Online

New Yorkers wishing to contest a ticket for parking, health or sanitation code violations no longer have to take their battle to Lower Manhattan. Now, they can go online.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg joined City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and other city officials on Monday to announce the start of Online Hearings. Those who want to contest a ticket can file a written claim online. A judge then has 30 days to make a decision.

"No one likes to get at ticket, but it shouldn't have to be so difficult and time-consuming to contest one," Bloomberg said.

Quinn said she agreed online hearings make it easier on residents. She said it will especially help small business owners who've lost money in the past when they had to travel downtown to fight a ticket.

"The choice becomes, 'Do I just pay it, lose money, or do I close my business or my store, lose money?' That's a terrible way to run a process," she said. 

The online hearings are part of the city's NYC Simplicity agenda to make city government more efficient.

New Yorkers will also be allowed to attach evidence to their case online. As of now, the program does not offer an online appeal process.

"Is it perfect? Does it allow chat? Does it take care of some complex case? No," Bloomberg said. "But it makes the process that's been going on for a long time easier and more customer-friendly and more efficient for both the person who's gotten the ticket and the government that has to administer the law."