(Trenton) - Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Reed Gusciora to remedy problems surrounding overcrowded parking at NJ Transit train stations was released Monday by an Assembly panel.
The bill (A-1080) would make clear that a vacant permit parking space at train stations operated by NJ Transit is available for general public use during off-peak times.
An individual may raise this inference as a defense when contesting a parking ticket for using a permit parking space during off-peak periods.
"In many cases, the NJ Transit lots are largely reserved for permit parking by daily commuters and that's understandable, but there's no reason why these spots shouldn't be open for general public use during nights and weekends," said Gusciora (D-Mercer). "Often times, the spots reserved for daily use are filled during off-peak times while the permit area is a vast sea of unused parking spots. That's no way to encourage use of mass transit."
The bill defines off-peak times as the hours from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. during the weekdays, and all day on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
"In many cases, during off-peak times non-permit areas are at full capacity while the permit parking areas remain empty," Gusciora said. "As a result, individuals who do not have parking permits are forced to park in permit-only parking areas and thus, they receive a citation. Let's face it - that's unfair. This bill is a simple and commonsense fix."
The bill was released 5-0-3 by the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee, with Democrats supporting and Republicans abstaining.
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