5 NYC Parking Ticket Mistakes and How to Fix ‘Em

Last Updated on April 30, 2015 by Lawrence Berezin

Are you making these 5 NYC parking ticket blunders?

Can we talk? Unless you have a bunch of extra dough-re-mi lying around, paying a NYC parking ticket fine hurts.

There are some parking tickets that are unavoidable. For example, receiving a blocking the box parking violation when the warrior entered the active roadway before the traffic light turned red and blocked your path out of the box. Or, getting a ticket for parking too close to a fire hydrant even though you parked 17 feet from the hydrant.

Those parking tickets were unavoidable, but you can still fight ’em and win. Do your homework, prepare a thoughtful and persuasive defense certification and exhibits. Make sure you present the proper proof properly. Most importantly never ever pay a NYC parking ticket “no questions asked.”

Here are 5 NYC parking ticket blunders and how to fix ’em

1.  Placing your current registration on the dashboard of your chariot

I can’t tell you how many times our wonderful friends tell me that they were about to stick their current registration sticker on the windshield, but…1) It was too hard and messy to remove the old sticker  2) they were going to attach it to the windshield but were so busy. Ca-ching!

Please do not park your car in NYC without displaying a current registration properly attached to the windshield.

That reminds me…

2.  Knowing the difference between a parking violation for “properly registered 4-08(j)(1)“ and “properly displayed 4-08(j)(6)“

A super nice customer recently told me that their registration was renewed, but they mistakenly stuck it on the wrong side of the inspection sticker. Ca-ching.

Here’s a link to a blog post that shows you where to place each sticker. Read it, follow the instructions, and keep your hard-earned dough where it belongs…in your own wallet.

3.  But the fire hydrant was broken!

The Evil Empire cares not that you’re a highly credentialed fire hydrant engineer, and the most recommended person on Angie’s List, you are not empowered to decide that a fire hydrant is broken (making it legal to park within 15 feet).

There have been attempts to fix this rule, but to no avail. It is illegal to park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, regardless of whether it’s broken or working.

4.  Driving a commercial van and stopping to answer your cell phone within 15 feet of a fire hydrant

Trix are for kids, and the fire hydrant exception is for passenger vehicles

5.   Running into the store for just a minute while your car was double parked and your friend was sitting in the passenger seat

I don’t know which is worse, leaving a note for the warrior under the wiper, or leaving your friend in the car. Neither are legitimate ways to avoid a NYC parking ticket.

Here’s the scoop:

• Avoid double parking
• If you gotta double park, the driver must remain seated behind the wheel while a passenger exits or enters to or from the curb
• Leave sooner than immediately

Commentary

Learn the rules. But, if you get an unjust parking ticket, fight it!