NEW YORK, NY November 20, 2008 —Parking is an obsession for New Yorkers for those who have cars and even for some who don't. The City Council passed a law yesterday that would ease restrictions on parking at a broken meter. Instead of just parking at the space for an hour, a driver can leave a car for as long as the meter would allow when it's working. WNYC's Matthew Schuerman asked a few cab drivers about the law and found out their main concern is what the law says in the first place.

REPORTER: Do you have any idea how long currently you are allowed to stay at a broken parking meter?

SHAH: A broken parking meter? I have no idea.

REPORTER: That's cab driver Syed Shah. He says he usually puts money in the meter before he finds out it's broken. So he just leaves his car there and hopes for the best. Turns out, the broken parking meter rule is one of those obscure bits of New York City lore that you only learn when it's too late. Cabbie Ahmad Moustafa found out from a judge.

MOUSTAFA: An hour.

REPORTER: No matter what?

MOUSTAFA: An hour. That's what he said. But it's not written. He's saying that they tell you that in the court, but who will know?

REPORTER: But the City Council's decision to let cars stay at the meter longer may have less impact than its drafters expected. Along this strip of First Avenue in the East Village, meters have already been replaced by muni-meters - those vending machines where you buy a receipt to put on your windshield. The Department of Transportation says they break down less often than old meters, and if a muni-meter's kaput, you can always get a receipt from another muni-meter across the street. The other thing is, in much of Manhattan, drivers can only park for an hour anyway, even if the meter is working. But a broken meter adds an element of chance. Cabbie Cherinor Barrie says there's a law on the books and then another law that people actually observe.

BARRIE: If there is no police officer who can record the time that you park there, you can park for as long as the meter is broken. But let's say, as an example, you just parked there and a police comes behind you and if it goes more than the time limit, then he is allowed to give you a summons.

REPORTER: The mayor is expected to sign the broken parking meter bill, and it will go into effect in 90 days. For WNYC, I'm Matthew Schuerman.