Last Updated on April 19, 2016 by Lawrence Berezin
The parking ticket quiz answers were eye-opening
85 wonderful members of our community answered a 5-question quiz about the rules of engagement in Parking Ticket Land.
I carefully analyzed the results of the quiz. The answers helped me identify the gaps in knowledge that I need to address in future blog posts and guides.
Here are the results. Are you surprised?
The parking ticket quiz analyzed question by question
Question #1:
I took the first question directly from the rule about parking at a broken (or missing) muni-meter. I urge you to avoid parking at a broken meter at all costs because:
- You are required to check every meter on the block (intersection to intersection) on both sides of the street (parking field)
- If you find a working meter, you are required to pay for the time and race back with the receipt within 5 minutes of issuance
- You are required to report all broken meters by either calling 311 or the preferred method of completing a form on the 311 website
- You will get a parking ticket
- You must contest the ticket
- A judge will check the DOT records to verify that all meters in the parking field were broken
[Tweet “You are required to check every meter on the block (intersection to intersection) on both sides of the street (parking field)”]I’m exhausted even writing all this stuff. I can’t imagine fulfilling all the requirements.
39% of respondents got it wrong.
The rule is good to know so you never attempt to park at a broken meter.
Question #2
I love the fact that I was only able to trick a tiny percentage of the respondents with this question. A driver is not permitted to park in excess of the time limit for the parking zone. In other words, if you park in a 1-hour parking zone, you can only park your chariot for one hour. When the hour is up, you must skedaddle. o You cannot feed the meter to park an additional hour.
Question #3
The grotesque practice of booting a car and 2-hours later towing it is despicable. It is clearly overreaching and imposing two charges for the same parking violation. Imagine getting a ticket ($115), a boot ($185) and a tow 2-hours later because you parked in a no standing zone and went to work. I urge you to write to your council person to bring this draconian practice to her attention to motivate action to change this illegal behavior.
I found it interesting that 45% of the respondents didn’t know this practice existed (hopefully, they’ll never experience the boot and tow)
Question #4
I have been working overtime to teach our community that No beats Yes. A safety zone (a No) trumps a parking sign that permits parking.
Sadly, 45% of all respondents haven’t learned this painful parking ticket land rule.
Question #5
You can never ever stop in a bike lane, period. End of story.
The correct answerers narrowly beat the incorrect answerers. Please don’t make this mistake
Commentary
My major mission is to help every, single member of the NYC driving public learn the parking rules and regulations and beat unjust parking tickets. The best way for me to help youse guys and guyettes is to offer quizzes that test your current knowledge of the rules of engagement. The feedback I get from these tests helps me identify strengths and weaknesses.
I’ll keep preparing ’em if you keep taking ’em. Do we have a deal?
Park safely,
Larry
Hi Larry, Really enjoyed the test. The most disturbing thing is about not being able to stop in a bike lane, ever. Here are my thoughts. On one hand, I understand the problems if a vehicle is stopped and bikes have to go around them. BUTTTTT there are 2 issues here. With the proliferation of these lanes popping up all over the city, there are limited places to pick up or drop off passengers. Some of these silly lanes are in places that are forcing cars to park in the middle of the street. This increases the risk of people exiting the car opening the door into either traffic or the bike lane. And it reduces the number of parking spaces, since now you need gaps before the end of the block.
But my main issue is WHY DO WE EVEN NEED THEM??? If you figure that bikes and cars began sharing the road in the early 1900’2, then for over 100 years they have coexisted. I grew up riding my bike in the street in the late 60’s and throughout the 70’s. I learned to be careful and follow the rules of the road, and never got hit by a car. None of my friends ever did, either. Today, people seem to be more reckless and need more pampering.
Lee,
Always great to hear from you and your insightful comments. You raise a good point about the hardships invoked by the bike lane rules.
There are many stakeholders battling for their fair share of the roadway.In urban areas especially, the automobile is no longer king of the road. Add a touch of safety concerns and environment considerations and you have the current state of the debate.
Thanks, Lee.
Larry