New York City Stipulated Fine Program Class Action Settlement

A $14 million settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit that alleges the City of New York issued unlawful traffic lane violation tickets instead of double parking tickets to participants in the city’s Stipulated Fine Program. This practice allegedly forced participants to pay a $40 fine for the traffic lane violation when they should not have been required to pay anything due to their participation in the Stipulated Fine Program.

If you owned and/or operated a New York State registered commercial vehicle, participated in NYC’s Stipulated Fine Program and paid a $40 fine after receiving a ticket for a traffic lane violation, you may be entitled to benefits from this class action settlement.

The Stipulated Fine Program was launched in NYC in 2004 to address the volume of parking tickets that were issued to commercial service and delivery vehicles in the city and the demand on the time associated with the tickets. Participants in the Stipulated Fine Program agreed to pay the fines established by NYC and also agreed to forego hearings and appeals for certain charges.

According to the class action lawsuit, NYC issued unlawful traffic lane violation tickets to participants instead of double parking tickets during the time period from May 2006 to Oct. 1, 2010. Participants in the Stipulated Fine Program would not have had to pay anything for the double parking violation, but they were allegedly fined $40 because the city issued traffic lane violation tickets instead.

The plaintiffs allege that the defendants violated the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Article I §§ 6-7 of the New York State Constitution.

The defendants deny the allegations but agreed to settle the parking fine class action lawsuit to avoid the expense and uncertainty of ongoing litigation.

Class Members who wish to opt out of or object to this NYC traffic violation settlement must do so no later than June 24, 2016.

Who’s Eligible

Class Members include: “All persons or entities who owned and/or operated New York State-registered commercial vehicles and, during the period June 1, 2006 through October 31, 2010 (‘Class Period’), participated in the City’s Stipulated Fine Program, and during the Class Period received a ticket for a Traffic Lane Violation indicated as Code 45 on the face of the ticket, and paid the associated $40 fine at any point up until Feb. 8, 2016.”

Potential Award

Varies.

The $14 million settlement fund will be distributed to Class Members on a pro rata basis, based on the number of traffic lane tickets issued during the Class Period.

Proof of Purchase

N/A. Class Members who do not opt out of the settlement will automatically receive a payment if the settlement is approved.

FAQs

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS »

Claim Form Deadline

N/A. Class Members who do not opt out of the settlement will automatically receive a payment if the settlement is approved.

Case Name

Lockman Inc. v. City of New York, et al., Case No. 1:11-cv-01836-NGG-MDG, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

Final Hearing

08/05/2016

Settlement Website

www.LockmanClassActionSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

KCC Class Action Services

For more information about the settlement, you may contact Class Counsel:

Oren Giskan
Raymond Audain
GISKAN SOLOTAROFF ANDERSON & STEWART LLP
11 Broadway, Suite 2150
New York, NY 10004
212-847-8315
ogiskan@gslawny.com
raudain@gslawny.com

Class Counsel

JACOBSEN LAW OFFICES LLC
GISKAN SOLOTAROFF ANDERSON & STEWART LLP
BONI & ZACK LLC
LOWENFELD LAW FIRM

Defense Counsel

Amy J. Weinblatt
Yungbi Jang
NYC LAW DEPARTMENT