RHINEBECK, N.Y. – Criminal penalties have been taken out of proposed Rhinecliff parking rules, but the high price of being ticketed remains in an effort to have Amtrak rail customers stop blocking driveways in the residential hamlet.

An often-testy exchange took place on Monday, Oct. 27, between Town Board members, leaving Councilwoman Dana Peterson unable to secure a reduction in proposed fines that start at $100 for a first parking ticket and increase to $850 for a third ticket.

“I think $100 for the first ticket is kind of a spicy meatball,” she said.

“Just to be clear, if someone pays that first ticket…the second time they get a ticket, now all of a sudden they can get a $200 ticket,” Peterson said. “I just think that’s crazy high.”

Supervisor Elizabeth Spinzia was quick to disagr

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