3 No Parking Ticket Myths Debunked

Last Updated on June 26, 2017 by Lawrence Berezin

A No Parking ticket is one of the most misunderstood parking violations in Parking Ticket Land

There are 99 parking violations on the Evil Empire’s wall, 99 parking violations. One that constantly confounds the driving public is the No parking ticket.

Just the other day I received an inquiry from a friend of New York Parking Ticket sharing his dismay about getting a No parking ticket while he was sitting behind the wheel of his car with the motor running.

Without further adieu, let’s debunk some no parking ticket myths

Myth #1

There is a tooth fairy in Parking Ticket Land

Learning takes relentless repetition. You are standing and parking your vehicle every time you stop it. This bears repeating if you halt your car:

• Even for a NY minute
• With the motor running
• While you stay seated behind the wheel

You are considered “standing” and “parking” according to the NYC Traffic Rules.

The only difference between standing and parking is the activity you can do in a No Standing zone versus a No parking zone.

Myth #2

Unicorns are alive and well and living in Brooklyn near Barclay’s Arena

Why are people who take buses prohibited from carrying packages? To me, it makes no sense to penalize someone for getting out of a car with a package in a bus stop zone. However, since the Evil Empire hasn’t asked our opinion, and whether it makes sense or not…You can only drop off or pick up people, not their things, in a bus stop zone.

After you drop or pick up, do not lollygag…Exit the bus stop zone, immediately.

Myth #3

Black cats are bad luck (only if you’re a tiny mouse that stopped temporarily in a cat zone)

Yes you can. Here’s the rule:

4-08 (D) (6) says, “No parking-hotel loading zone. No person shall park a vehicle in such zone except temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in receiving or discharging passengers and their personal baggage at hotels.”

A hotel loading zone is a “no parking” zone, which means you can stop temporarily to load or unload people and their things. So, why does the rule incorporate  a pre-existing parking truth? It seems redundant.  But redundant is good if all the cops, warriors, and judges know that you can “park” in a hotel loading zone to discharge people and personal baggage (Does personal baggage include emotional stuff, too? Imagine being able to unload all of your psychosis at NYC hotels).

Commentary

Debunking myths is fun. I’m wondering how do myths gain traction? Are myths like unicorns, Easter bunnies, and tooth fairies bad? Or are there good myths and bad myths? Like a parking ticket myth is bad because it will cost you money.

Hopefully debunking a few no parking ticket myths knocks off some parking tickets from the Evil Empire’s wall.