BUFFALO (WBEN - Brendan Keany) - There has been so much discussion on parking in the City of Buffalo in recent weeks, and now, local politicians want to make statewide regulations regarding the practices of private parking lots.
State Assemblymembers Sean Ryan and Monica Wallace say private parking lots are engaging in predatory parking practices. They're introducing the Parking Protection Bill to combat these practices. pic.twitter.com/OyL1Nw36cZ
— WBEN NewsRadio 930AM (@NewsRadio930) January 10, 2019
State Assemblymembers Sean Ryan and Monica Wallace held a press conference in Downtown Buffalo today to announce legislation to end shady parking business practices in New York.
"Currently, there are parking lot owners across the state that are abusing the existing law and who are engaging in predatory parking practices," said Ryan. "Look at all the signs around us. None of them clearly state how much it costs to park in one of these lots."
Wallace echoed Ryan's sentiments, saying that it's very confusing, especially for people who don't often visit the city, to understand the actual price they're required to pay.
"My office continually gets called from people who come downtown for shows - we're here in the Theater District - and enter lots thinking the lot id $5, only to find out after they exit their car, get their kids out of the car, and go to the kiosk, that the cost is actually $75," said Ryan. "I believe this is a classic bait and switch. You lure a consumer into a parking lot only then to spring on them that the cost is a lot higher than you thought."
He added that confusion isn't the only way that lot owners extort money from parkers.
"Other times, they engage in pure parking traps, where people park in lots that aren't clearly marked and then come back to the lot to find their car has either been towed or has been booted," said Ryan. "Get this: the cost to get the boot off your car in Downtown Buffalo is $150 in cash."
