Viewer Janice Edwards wrote in recently to ask a simple question. She wanted to know: "Can I pay my parking ticket online?"

The answer is yes, you can look up and pay your parking ticket on the Web -- and even request a hearing to dispute the ticket -- by visiting the Parking Violations Home Page.

Janice's note got me thinking about other e-government services. And since a new administration is in office, I thought it would be the perfect time to check in and see what's going on online.

The only site you need to remember is NYC.gov -- once you get there it seems like almost any basic interaction you need or want to have with city government is accessible from there. And, naturally, bios and more of the Mayor and senior officials.

While you still may need to stand in line to do certain things, one of the best timesavers here is the collection of city forms. As a result of 9/11, many of the forms were taken down, but, I am happy to report, the situation is about to change by next week. Marsha D. Kaunitz, deputy managing editor of the office that runs NYC.gov told 7online.com that "when re-enabled there will be more than 165 online forms (and growing) on the site that users can access 24 hours a day."

Want to report a pothole? Check. Register to vote? Check. Get a birth certificate? Check. Want to learn about adoption options? Check. There's a entire section of World Trade Center-related information, including family assistance programs. Plus, of course, links to the official NYPD and FDNY Web sites.

One of the most handy parts of the site is the restaurant health inspection report. Put in a restaurant's name and it will tell you what, if any, health code violations it has had. You may never eat out in this town again.

If you are looking for NYC visitors informaiton, the best link is NYCGuide.org

Once you try these out, do write in to techguru@sree.net and let me know your thoughts.

Send your feedback -- and ideas for coverage: techguru@sree.net

 

To join the LOW-volume "Sree Tips" e-mail mailing list, send your name and e-mail address to sreetips-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. No more than once a month, you will receive an e-mail message with tips and tricks about new, useful and fun Web sites.