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Updated: July 9, 2009, 8:52 pm	Share    Print    Email

Democratic nominee for East Hampton Town Supervisor Ben Zwirn and State Assemblyman Fred Thiele held a press conference in the office of local attorney Jeffery Bragman on Monday, June 29 to protest the lack of clarity in legislation currently moving through Albany. Photo by Aaron Boyd

East Hampton - Democratic candidate for East Hampton Town Supervisor Ben Zwirn and New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele (R-2nd) held a press conference on Monday, June 29 to speak out against legislation currently before the New York State Senate that would assess a $50 surcharge to all moving violation convictions in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Both politicians criticized the measure for not specifically outlining how the accrued funds will be distributed.

The legislation, which passed the State Assembly with only 77 votes (bills need 76 to pass), would create a dedicated fund under the auspices of the Office of the State Comptroller for the express purpose of supplementing Nassau and Suffolk County police departments patrolling the Long Island Expressway (I-495) and Sunrise Highway (Route 27). However, "All it does is create this pool of money to be used somehow," Thiele charged. "The bill is silent on that part, which was enough to commend a 'no' vote to begin with," he asserted.

Speeding violators may be shocked b the pending surcharge, that is if they can get out of the bumper to bumper traffic that often welcomes them to the East End.

According to Thiele, under the controversial surcharge, "Substantial funding is going to be generated on the East End and it won't come back. Our dollars are going to go west and never come back," he cautioned.

Implementation of the new surcharge, which will not be assessed on parking infractions, would raise over $450,000 annually in East Hampton alone, according to figures provided by East Hampton Town Police Chief Todd Sarris and East Hampton Village Administrator Larry Cantwell, whose jurisdictions combined issued 9,132 traffic summonses in 2008. "Think of how outraged people are about beach stickers," Zwirn noted in reference to the newly established $25 fee for resident parking permits -- an instance in which the funds were directed back toward East Hampton. "This surcharge would eliminate the need for that revenue."

"Nobody has a lot of sympathy for those that break the law," Thiele qualified his opposition. The politicians were concerned that, once more, the East End would not be getting its fair share. According to the legislator, The surcharge will likely pass the State Senate assuming they find a way to work together - - "It's like two warring factions starring across the moat at each other and no one's blinked yet," according to Thiele.

"Governor [David Paterson] has made it part of his agenda," Zwirn explained, so the goal has become ensuring that the Senate legislation provides for reimbursement to the local municipalities who regularly patrol state roads, and not just I-495 and Rt. 27. "I can't remember the last time I saw a state officer on Route 114," Zwirn asserted.

"If this is going to happen, those differences need to be reconciled in this legislation," Thiele argued.

Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman, who represents the South Fork, was unable to attend Monday's conference, however he supplied a statement in support of Zwirn and Thiele's protest. "Revenue collected by our East End police departments should return to those departments," he contended.

If an amended bill does pass, Zwirn was hopeful that "bringing in extra revenue through the Justice Court will take some of the burden off of property taxes," which saw a 24 percent increase in East Hampton's 2009 budget. "If you come here from somewhere else and are visiting, you better obey the laws," he cautioned.