10 Common Parking Ticket Mistakes and How to Fix ‘Em

Last Updated on January 2, 2018 by Lawrence Berezin

Parking ticket mistakes to fix before 2018

Parking ticket mistakes can cost you anywhere from $35 for sleeping late in Queens to $515 for parking a tractor-trailer on a residential street between 9 pm and 5 am two times. NYC parking tickets generated about $545M in fines last year and it’s all because of mistakes we made. Yikes.

What are some common mistakes I’m asked about? How do we fix ’em?

Knowledge is power

And lack of knowledge can be very expensive.

1.I only ran into Starbucks for 3 minutes and the Warrior gave me a ticket

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this excuse. The rock solid, you can always rely on conventional wisdom is that you can never leave your car unattended in a no parking or no standing zone.

You are permitted to stop temporarily to expeditiously drop off or pick up a passenger at the curb, and leave the area immediately in a no standing zone.

You are permitted to stop temporarily to expeditiously drop off or pick up a passenger and their stuff at the curb and leave the area immediately in a no parking zone.

No bathroom breaks allowed.

2.My 93-year old Aunt Tilly was asleep in the back seat of my chariot

So, why did I get a fire hydrant ticket? Because Aunt Tilly:

• No longer has her driver’s license
• Didn’t have the keys
• Wasn’t sitting behind the wheel (for all the good that would do)

Enough said?

3.The doorman said he would watch my car 

The bottom line is the doorman got to watch a Warrior issue a ticket. A doorman isn’t going to talk a Warrior or cop out of issuing a ticket while you check your mail

4.A bus stop ends at a driveway or fire hydrant

Nope. A bus stop starts at the bus stop sign and extends in the direction of the arrow(s) on the sign until the next parking sign, or if none, the end of the block

Don’t think you can hide behind a driveway or fire hydrant to escape the wrath of an NYC bus stop ticket because you can’t.

5.I stopped for a moment in a bike lane 

To drop off my passenger. Ca-ching.

A bike lane is a no stopping zone. You can’t stop, period.

6.I stopped for a moment in a bus lane

To drop off my passenger and left the bus lane immediately.

If you got a ticket, fight it. You are permitted to stop temporarily in a bus to drop off a passenger and skedaddle in a bus lane.

7.I entered a bus lane and made a right turn at the second intersection

Oh man, so close. Smile, you’re on bus lane camera.

You are required to make the first right turn after entering the bus lane.

8.What’s the easiest way to beat a parking ticket?

Every single time you get a parking ticket, check the front for omitted, misdescribed or illegible required elements. If you find one or more, you win upon presentation of the proper proof, properly.

9.Can you beat a parking ticket for blocking the box?

Yes. But, it is very challenging to beat unless you:

• Were turning left and can prove it
• Had a witness in the car who can testify that the Warrior never asked your name
• Had a witness in the car who can testify that a huge truck really cut you off at the last second

[alert type=”success” icon-size=”hide-icon”]

A Warrior must enter the driver’s name on a parking ticket if she’s sitting behind the wheel when he issued the ticket. [/alert]

You’ll notice on a blocking the box ticket, the Warrior always enters “Refused Name, “despite the fact she never asked you for your name. It gets worse, rogue judges never dismiss a ticket because they’ll say they don’t believe you. Shame on the Warriors and rogue judge’s who engage in this deception.

10.Are Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve legal parking holidays in NYC?

No, no, 1000 times no (and neither is Black Friday). Let the parker beware.

Commentary

I’m a little nostalgic about 2017 because I’ve come to the end of my 60’s. My son says that I’m older than dirt, but I’m sure there must be some dirt that’s 80 years old, yes?

Enjoy the holiday festivities. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah

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