Borough Park, NY – Newly announced parking regulations in Borough Park that are slated to begin in a few weeks will make life significantly easier for shomer Shabbos motorists who will finally be able to park on two heavily traveled avenues without fear of being ticketed.

The changes will allow those who park on 13th and 18th Avenues on Friday afternoons to prepay for up to four hours in advance starting at 3 PM, enabling their vehicles to remain legally in their spots until 7 PM when meter regulations are no longer in effect.

The new meter rules are slated to kick off at the end of November.

The program follows a similar effort on 16th Avenue which was created to alleviate a parking crunch, with drivers unable to park in metered spots during the winter months because of the early onset of Shabbos, starting just after 4 PM.

Faced with a three hour gap before meter rules were no longer in effect, drivers had to choose between leaving their cars parked illegally on the avenue once their time expired or the increasingly difficult task of trying to find a parking spot on the streets of Borough Park.

Local elected officials, State Senator Simcha Felder, City Councilman David Greenfield and Assemblyman Dov Hikind, have all worked hand in hand with the Department of Transportation to modify parking regulations in the area.

Both Greenfield and Hikind issued press releases thanking the many people who were involved in the effort.

“This reasonable accommodation is long overdue and is a win-win for everyone,” noted Felder in a written statement.

“Being able to pre-pay the meter is vital for those who observe Shabbos and will really help alleviate the pre-Shabbos parking crunch in Boro Park,” said Greenfield.

“I am thrilled with this news, which is a common sense win for drivers looking for parking in our community,” added Hikind. “Expanding this popular program to 13th and 18th Avenues, major commercial areas in Brooklyn, will benefit everyone.”

The new regulations are expected to make dozens of parking places available to shomer Shabbos residents and guests and could potentially be the precursor to additional programs in both Borough Park and Flatbush.