Assemblyman Hikind demanded that the Department of Consumer Affairs cease ticketing small businesses in Boro Park with petty, nuisance tickets. In recent months, community merchants have been inundated with expensive tickets, many of which the Assemblyman believes were unnecessary and meant only to fill a quota.

After receiving numerous complaints from local merchants, Assemblyman Hikind’s staff began canvassing community businesses to find out what had been occurring with Consumer Affairs’ tickets. In one case, a silver merchant was fined $625 for not posting prices on silver items, although it is well known that silver is a commodity and the price of silver fluctuates from day to day. In a second case, a small barber shop was fined for not posting a refund policy. In a third case, an eyewear establishment was fined for not having posted their refund policy in a “conspicuous” location, although it was plain to see that a refund policy had indeed been posted.

“When you read some of these tickets, it’s just ludicrous,” said Assemblyman Hikind. “Store owners weren’t even warned about questionable infractions—they were just blindsided with very expensive penalties. Is that fair? Clearly these inspectors were instructed to try to find any and all opportunities to fine these store owners. But that is a tremendous hardship for some of them. How many haircuts does a barbershop have to give to pay one of these fines?”