Opinion
Index No. 152330/20 No. 17661 Case No. 2022-03971
04-06-2023
In the Matter of Victor Serby, Petitioner, v. The City of New York et al., Respondents.
Victor M. Serby, petitioner pro se, Woodmere. Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix, Corporation Counsel, New York (Janet L. Zaleon of counsel), for respondents.
Victor M. Serby, petitioner pro se, Woodmere.
Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix, Corporation Counsel, New York (Janet L. Zaleon of counsel), for respondents.
Before: Renwick, A.P.J, Kapnick, Friedman, Moulton, Kennedy, JJ.
Determination of respondent New York City Department of Finance Parking Violations Bureau (PVB), dated November 1, 2019, which found petitioner liable for speeding in a school speed zone, unanimously confirmed, the petition denied, and the proceeding brought pursuant to CPLR article 78 (transferred to this Court by order of Supreme Court, New York County [Debra James, J.], entered April 7, 2022), dismissed, without costs.
PVB's determination that petitioner exceeded the posted maximum speed limit in a school speed zone, in violation of Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1180-b, was supported by substantial evidence (see CPLR 7803[4]; 300 Gramatan Ave. Assoc. v State Div. of Human Rights, 45 N.Y.2d 176, 179-182 [1978]). The sworn certificate of the technician affirming that petitioner's vehicle was traveling at a speed of more than 10 miles per hour above the posted speed limit constituted "prima facie evidence" of the violation, and petitioner's denial that he was speeding, without more, was insufficient to overcome PVB's "prima facie establishment of liability" (Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1180-b[d]; Matter of Kuza v New York City Dept. of Fin., 211 A.D.3d 607, 607 [1st Dept 2022] [internal quotation marks omitted]).
Contrary to petitioner's contention, the technician's certificate and camera's daily set-up logs were valid and admissible without corroborating testimony from their signatories or expert analysis (Matter of Monroe St. v City of New York, 202 A.D.3d 542, 543 [1st Dept 2022]). Furthermore, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) was not bound by the rules of evidence (see Vehicle and Traffic Law § 240[2][c]; 19 RCNY 39-08[f][1]).
Because a speed camera violation results in a civil penalty and not a criminal conviction (see Vehicle and Traffic Law §§ 155 ["Any fine imposed by an administrative tribunal shall be a civil penalty"], 1180-b[f] ["imposition of liability... pursuant to this section shall not be deemed a conviction"]), petitioner was not entitled to the protections of the Criminal Procedure Law or Sixth Amendment right to confrontation under the Federal and State Constitutions (see U.S. Const, 6th Amend; NY Const, art I, § 6; CPL 1.10). Nor was petitioner entitled to a jury trial under the Seventh Amendment, which is "not applicable to cases tried in state courts" (Marko v Korf, 166 A.D.3d 545, 546 [1st Dept 2018]; see U.S. Const, 7th Amend).
Petitioner was not deprived of due process. "[P]rocedural due process in the context of an agency determination requires that the agency provide an opportunity to be heard in a meaningful manner at a meaningful time" (Matter of Kaur v New York State Urban Dev. Corp., 15 N.Y.3d 235, 260 [2010]). Petitioner was afforded notice of his violation and an opportunity to challenge the violation at a hearing, where he was permitted to testify, call witnesses, and present documentary evidence (see 19 RCNY 39-08[f][3]). These procedures were constitutionally sufficient (see Matter of Ammar v Olatoye, 136 A.D.3d 585, 586 [ 1st Dept 2016]).
We have considered petitioner's remaining arguments and find them unavailing. THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT.