Last Updated on December 30, 2017 by Lawrence Berezin
NYC parking ticket and a tow
I can’t thank you all enough for your participation in our 60 seconds, three (3) question quizzes (on the Home page and Larry’s Blog). Your responses totally help me identify areas where we need to turbo-charge our parking ticket knowledge. Today we’re going to talk about the draconian act of towing your vehicle.
While the Evil Empire claims to tow is about safety, our driving community knows better. “Revenue men” exist to collect revenue, period.
All of NYC is a tow-away zone
I recently spoke with Ruth whose car was towed for an expired meter violation. A $45 NYC parking ticket on steroids morphed into a $230.00 parking ticket and tow monster. Once her car was snatched by the hook from her leased parking space, safety was restored to NYC parking ticket land.
What if NY refuses to renew my vehicle registration?
According to the NYC DOT website:
Registration Clearance
A Registration Clearance certifies your parking debt has been paid or the tickets have been dismissed. It allows you to obtain or renew your vehicle registration at the NY State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in person. If you prefer to pay all of your parking judgment debt on-line you will not receive a Registration Clearance, however, you must also renew/register your vehicle on-line with the D.M.V. Just pay your judgment debt on-line and register your vehicle with the NY State Department of Motor Vehicles on-line. (Note: After paying on-line, you will have to wait up to 48 hours to register your vehicle with D.M.V. for payments received before 6 pm. For payments received after 6 pm, it will take up to 72 hours.)”
Commentary
In jolly old England prior to the age of enlightenment, a citizen could lose his hand for stealing a loaf of bread. Fast forward to the present time…A citizen in NYC can lose her car for an expired meter parking ticket. This practice just plain sucks (pardon my French).
The only saving grace is if you beat your NYC parking ticket resulting in a tow, your tow charges will be refunded.
Here’s hoping you don’t have to be saved by grace. Park safely.
Please share your towing experiences with our community. Did you beat your parking ticket and get your tow bucks back?
Under what conditions can an automobile be towed when the stickers are valid, no outstanding tickets or judgements and no scofflaw or warrants?
No ticket was issued and they towed my car from a legal spot, no alternate side regulations, no street cleaning rules and absolutely no signage on the whole block which mind you is a residential block?