5 Simple, Sure-Fired Ways to Beat an NYC Parking Ticket
There are some sure-fire ways to beat an NYC parking ticket
- Firstly, to beat an NYC parking ticket, take photo evidence before leaving the toxic parking space.
- Include your car in the parking space (showing the license plate).
- Likewise, take photos of the buildings abutting your parking space.
- Also, take a photo of the street sign at the corner
- And both sides of the closest parking sign in front of and to the rear of your car.
These photos are essential to preparing your exhibits.
In the same vein, what rule regulated the parking space? A beautiful photo is worthless unless a judge can tell exactly where and when it was parked at the location.
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
PLACE OF OCCURRENCE
- Always, without fail, check for omitted, misdescribed, or illegible required elements on the front of your parking ticket. If you find a mistake, you win upon application. Pay special attention to the “place of occurrence.” A warrior is required to describe the exact location where they allege you committed your parking crime.
- The warrior must enter, front, opposite, or a “metes and bounds” description.
For example, “W/S of Berry St_30 ft S/ of N 7th Street on the front of your parking ticket. This means the West side of Berry Street, 30 feet South of North 7th Street. Please be sure this address is accurate.
Likewise, the DOT Parking Regulations Map or Google Maps are great resources for checking the accuracy of these descriptions.
Meanwhile, can you guess the most ticketed neighborhoods in NYC?
Likewise, how do you prove a location that does NOT exist? Here’s a terrific tip from Louis Camporeale, who wrote “The New York City Parking Survival Guide, 2007 (Parking Pal Company).” You can find the book at Amazon.com. I call this my Elvis Presley Defense. Return to sender, address unknown, no such number, no such phone:
Mail a letter to the non-existent address. Please include your legible return address with your name on the front of the letter.
The US Postal Service will return your undeliverable letter marked as undeliverable. The envelope makes a persuasive exhibit.
Here’s one for all the pestered “out-of-towners.”
- A warrior is required to insert the month/year the registration expires. If they are displayed on your plate or windshield.
However, some warriors with rickety knees will not bend down to check their plates. But, instead will insert either “N/S” or “N/A” on the front of your parking ticket.
In short, I recommend you fight this parking ticket!
Commentary
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A warrior or cop is compelled to enter tiny bits of information to establish a prima facia case.
However, if any of this information is omitted, misdescribed, or illegible, you win (as long as you present the proper proof, properly.
Therefore, the more you can learn about these elements, the better your chances are to beat the Evil Empire.
So, here’s a brief guide that will make you a better parking ticket fighter!
Your honer as u see igot a parking ticket in front of 441w 50st the car was parked on 48 st I work on 47 st so that’s a mistake by the officer when I parked in the morning I measured with my feet it measured 15 feet let’s say my shoes is small size 7 so I was 13 feet but not 3 feet as the officer wrote it hurts wen u see such Abigail difference I would never park on a pump especially I came to work on sun trying to make my extra 50 dollars would not risk a ticket 115 dollars it really hurt me that the officer wrote 3 feet besides I. Drive 45 years never got a ticket by a pump iwouldnot. Lie for 115 dollars iam ortodux please consider it thanks yours truly
Time of offence was7-13/14 10:52am command t-503 tax reg number 330692 officers name is Gary m
Hi Larry, about the place of occurrence, I have got a ticket saying that“N/S 114th St 50ft E/of Northern Blvd”, do you know what N/S suppose to mean? can I fight the ticket by the description of the place of occurrence is incorrect or ambiguous?
Thank you.
Hi Sue,
Good evening.
“N/S” means “North Side.”
A misdescribed place of occurrence is a get out of jail free card.
The description of the place of occurrence entered on your parking ticket is referred to as a detailed description. It is not ambiguous. If anything, it is just, plain wrong.
You may wish to check whether there is a North Side of 114 Street. There is only a North Side if the 114 Street runs East to West.
Good luck.
Best,
Larry
Dear Larry,
My ticket says ‘Opposite 30 E 10th St. ‘
If I was parked across the street L, am I opposite from or across from 30 E 10th St? I’m not sure if tje word OPPOSITE makes sense. 10th St runs east to west and I was parked on the north side of the street. Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Kira
Hi Kira,
Good morning.
Opposite means, “across the street from 30 E 10th St.”
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
Hello Lawrence,
I am in need of some advise. I recently got a ticket in the mail for parking at a no parking area. However the date/time in question I was parked before the sign… on the ticket the agent put the wrong house number. How can I fight this case
Hi, Vanessa,
I’m sorry to report that I am no longer answering questions on the blog.
Just a little too much for this old guy to keep up with.
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
I just recd a parking ticket in the mail for a hydrant ticket which I never received. Was not handed to me or on windshield. I went to place described and I never parked there. I was probably in the area bc I drop my boy off to school close by. But I didn’t park on block that he wrote i did. I think the ticket is otherwise sufficient in that it has my vin, registration expiration. Ticket does not have My name and car is registered to me. There are nypd cameras on the block but I obviously don’t have access. Any suggestions?
Hi David,
Good afternoon.
I hate those “mail-only” tickets. But they are tough to beat.
Firstly, I would check for any misdescribed or omitted required elements (VIN# is not a required element. And a warrior or cop must enter your name only if you are present when the ticket is issued).
Next, check whether there is a fire hydrant within 15 feet of either border of the place of occurrence. If not, fight it.
Third, can you prove that your car was not parked at the place of occurrence on the date/time of the violation?
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
Hi Larry,
i got a parking summons that has no date listed and also no description of the address other than the house number in front of the place of occurence.
can i beat the ticket by stating these omissions?
thank you
Saul
Hi I recieved a ticket for speeding in a school zone on Friday the day after thanksgiving at which I thought was a holiday. Schools were closed this was about 6 am in the morning .
Hi Dana,
Good evening.
Sorry to learn about the school zone ticket.
I can tell you about parking in a school zone, but sadly, not speeding in a school zone.
Here’s a link to a blog post published by an expert and dear friend of mine (Matthew Weiss, Esq.) about speeding in a school zone. I hope you find the article helpful.
Regards,
Larry
Hi
I received a ticket from the DSNY for alternate side parking. They issued the ticket with the wrong precinct. Will that work as a defense?
Thank You for your time.
Hi Ari,
Good morning.
I’m afraid “Precinct” is not a required element that would entitle you to a dismissal.
Good question, though.
Be safe.
Regards,
Larry
Hi, I have a similar question but I received a NYPD parking ticket for being parked on the wrong side during ASP. The officer entered the incorrect precinct. Is this worth fighting? Thanks!
Hi Daniel,
Good afternoon.
I’m afraid the precinct number is not a required element.
Likewise, it does not entitle a driver to a dismissal.
Please don’t shoot the messenger, Daniel.
Regards,
Larry
Hi,
I once had a ticket, and took pictures of the surroundings. I can’t take picture with building number since it’s about 1 car space to the corner, so it’s the wall of the building. Also I tried to take picture of my car with the street but it’s too hard to see the street number if not zoomed in. As a result, the decision judge sent was something along the line of unidentified street of the pictures. In this case, how would I take pictures?
Hi Lin,
Good afternoon.
Sorry to hear about the unfortunate decision.
You pose a great question, but a complete and thorough reply would take my old, arthritic fingers too long to write. However, here are some tips:
-The warrior or cop entered the place of occurrence, so if the address was described correctly, you and the warrior agree on the location of your parking space.
-Therefore, the issue is what rule regulates the place of occurrence.
-I use a number of resources to provide the proof
-(1) The DOT Parking Regulations Map
-(2) Google Maps
-(3) The NYC Property Map and then click on “Advanced Search.”
-(4) Live photos
When you take live photos, there are many angles and views you can take to coordinate your proof with the DOT Parking Regulations Map and other sources I mentioned.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Larry
I appealed a ticket for an expired registration sticker but the sticker number was incorrect on the ticket. The appeal said that the matching sticker number was not a required element of the offense. But isn’t that wrong? Should I appeal the decision?
Hi Julie,
Wow.
I’ve never seen a ticket for expired registration without the sticker number in the comment section of the ticket.
Would you mind sending me a copy of the ticket? Or, the 10-digit ticket number? I’d like to check it out.
Thanks.
Regards,
Larry
I got a ticket which does not include the year of my car. Is that a reason for dismissal?
Hi Y,
I’m afraid not. The year of a car is not a required element.
Did you find any mistakes?
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
Happy New Year Larry. I got hit with an Inspection Violation the first week of the year. The NYPD Pct. is incorrect on the ticket. It was given by traffic enforcement. Is it dismissible?
Hi Jimmy,
Happy NY to year, Jimmy.
I’m afraid that NYPD Pct. is not a required element.
Were they any more mistakes?
Regards,
Larry
Not the correct address but a few houses away. Thank you.
Best
Jimmy
Is date and time of first observed a requirement on ticket mine says n/a
Hi Eric,
Good afternoon.
Great question.
Whether a warrior or cop must enter the time first observed depends on the violation. For example, a warrior or cop must enter the time first observed on an overtime parking ticket.
What was the violation?
Regards,
Larry
I got a ticket inn front of my opposite side of my building, was parked there for several day, but one day I got a ticket from a traffic officer, that real , car parked 8 feet from a fire hydrant, to me it look like a good 15 feet, so I went online and started the process of fight back the parking b=violation, , got my picture in all angles got a measurement take, (which gave me 14,8 feet) well I lest is not 8 feet like the traffic cop said. make my argument considering this was unjustified, and even so the traffic cop lie openly. because in the video show he stopped and look at the fire hydrant and process to give me the parking ticket. 3 week later,after I filled all my detail and sent away my defense I was still guilty. courtesy of the corrupt money city collector judge Gary from from finance, I don’t mind paying the ticket if I earned or deserved it, but because a traffic cop willing that someone will pay $$115 and lie in the process, I considered this to be an abused of power for both. I should I do next, put the video and the ticket and the resulted with all the detail and name of all participants in YouTube so people be the judge and at the same time exposed how corrupt are those city official or make a formal complaint to the dept of finance?
Hi Rene,
Good afternoon.
I understand your frustration.
However, many wonderful members of the driving public make the same mistake of fighting the warrior’s estimate of how far from the fire hydrant you parked. Here’s something I wrote in one of the fire hydrant blog posts.
Good morning Larry. I’d appreciate your input if you’re willing. I received. a parking ticket issued by NYPD (not traffic) for “Pedestrian Ramp” at a T-intersection, which by DOT rules is a LEGAL parking spot despite the curb cut-down/ramp (https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/motorist/parking-regulations.shtml) because there is no crosswalk or traffic control there. Additionally, the location of occurrence documented is very imprecise (“Overlook & 186 St”). The precise location would have been Northeast corner of Overlook Terrace at West 186th Street. Any suggestions?
Hi Fernando,
Good afternoon.
I’m sorry to hear about this unjust pedestrian ramp parking ticket. Likewise, I would fight the evil thing, as follows:
-The place of occurrence was misdescribed.
There are three acceptable formats to describe a place of occurrence; Front, opposite, and metese and bounds. However, the officer entered none of these formats. Likewise, the format chosen is unacceptable.
-I parked in a legal parking space.
[your explanation was excellent].
Be sure to submit photos showing the location of the place of occurrence.
Let me know the outcome, Fernando.
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
Can you fight a parking ticket when parked in front of your own driveway?
Hi Jaron,
Great question.
Here’s the rule:
4-08(f)(2) Driveways. A driver cannot stand in front of a public or private driveway, except that it shall be permissible for the owner, lessor or lessee of the lot accessed by a private driveway to park a passenger vehicle registered to him/her at that address in front of such driveway, provided that such lot does not contain more than two dwelling units and further provided that such parking does not violate any other provision of the Vehicle and Traffic Law or local law or rule concerning the parking, stopping or standing of motor vehicles. The prohibition herein shall not apply to driveways that have been rendered unusable due to the presence of a building or other fixed obstruction and, therefore, are not being used as defined in §4-01(b) of these rules.
In other words:
-You must own or least the lot
-The car must be registered to you at the address
-The lot can’t contain more than two dwelling units
-The parking space in front of the driveway must not violate any other restrictions.
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry