By Gabriela Resto-Montero
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — The City Council has granted drivers a five-minute grace period on parking meters in certain no-parking zones throughout the city.
The bill, introduced by council members Simcha Felder of Brooklyn and James Vacca of the Bronx, forces parking ticket agents to wait five minutes before they fined drivers for an unpaid meter.
The grace period also covers Muni meters — which distribute tickets that can be displayed on car windows — and alternate-side parking citations.
The bill was approved by an overwhelming 47 to 2 margin and has the 34 votes needed to override a veto promised by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the Associated Press reported. Only councilmen Tony Avella and Dan Garodnick voted against the bill.
Parking tickets and moving violations account for a large source of revenue for the city, according to 1010WINS. In 2008, the city collected $596 million from violations, the station reported.
It is expected that tickets will generate $690 million this year.
