You Can Beat NYC Parking Tickets with the Evil Empire’s Help

A ticket is defective if certain required elements are missing, illegible, or misdescribed. We may dismiss defective tickets. This is the best way to beat NYC parking tickets.

The following elements are required to be accurate and legible:

• Plate number
• Plate type (for example, PAS, OMT, COM, etc.)
• Make or model (for example, TOYO, FORD, BMW, etc.)
• Body type (for example, SUBN, MCY, 4DSD, etc.)
• State of registration 
• A general statement of the violation charged (for example, “TR §4-08(e)(9)—bike lane,” etc.)
  • The proper section of law must be cited (for example, §4-08(e)(9), etc.)
  • A “plain English” description of the violation must also be stated (for example, “bike lane,” fire hydrant, etc.)
• The date and time (AM or PM) the ticket was issued

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• The place where the ticket was issued ( “front of” or “opposite,” etc.), excluding “status” and “equipment” violations
  • Status violations: registration/inspection sticker, improper registration, covered VIN, and registration plate violations
  • Equipment violations: missing, broken, or improper equipment (for example, headlights, brake lights, signals, windshield, mirrors, tinted windows, etc.)
    • The ticket must indicate what is broken, missing, or improper
• First observation time—for time-limited  zone violations
  • Overtime parking (parking meter)
  • Storage violations (3 hours, 24 hours, or 7 days)
  • Overtime parking—time limit posted
  • Commercial double parking

And there’s more!

• The expiration date of registration or inspection, if the charge is for expiration
• The issuer’s signature (doesn’t have to be legible, as long as they sign it)
• The days/hours the posted sign is in effect (unless in effect 24 hours)
• Meter number (for certain meter violations)
  • A charge of “failure to display” (VC38) does not need meter number
  • A charge of “expired meter” (VC37) must include the meter number

Larry’s Required Elements blog posts

Parking Sign Restrictions

• There is a five-minute grace period for parking meters and restrictive hours zones.
• •Signs are effective from the pole where the sign is affixed, in the direction of the arrow on the sign, to either the next corner or the next posted sign, whichever is nearer.
  • Where a car is “straddling” the pole containing a sign with a one directional arrow, that car will be deemed to be in the restricted zone of that sign if any part of the car in the restricted zone creates the violation.
• Where there are two signs posted affecting the same area, but with conflicting restrictions, follow the less restrictive sign. Report the conflicting signs by calling 311.

Parking Meters

• If the metered zone is in effect for certain times, those times must be accurately indicated on the ticket.
• If the violation is for overtime parking, the ticket must indicate the “time first observed.”
• If the violation is for an expired Muni Meter, the ticket must indicate the meter number.
  • Note: the meter number is not required if the violation was for failing to display the receipt.

Status Violations

• Any time the allegation is for something “improper,” the ticket must indicate why the registration, inspection, or equipment was improper.
• Likewise, if the violation is for “missing “or “broken” equipment, the ticket must identify the missing or broken equipment.

Registration Stickers and Display Violations

• Stickers must be current, valid, and properly displayed at all times.
  • Proper display means affixed to the windshield next to the inspection sticker.
  • Displaying the sticker on the dashboard is not proper.
  • Having the sticker somewhere inside the car, other than affixed to the windshield, is not proper.
  • Temporary registration stickers must be placed on the dashboard, with the old sticker remaining affixed to the windshield. 
• The ticket must indicate whether the registration was either “missing” or “expired.”
• If for expired registration, the expiration date must be noted on the ticket

Larry’s Registration and Inspection blog posts