Last Updated on November 1, 2022 by Lawrence Berezin
Here’s how a fire hydrant ticket and tow scam works
You find a parking space near a fire hydrant. Next, you get out of your car and measure the distance from your car to the hydrant. You’re 18 feet away. Likewise, it is far enough to avoid a dreaded fire hydrant ticket. Wow, this must be your lucky day.
Unfortunately, your lucky day turns into a nightmare. When you return to your car or the parking space where you parked your car, it’s gone. You spend hours getting your vehicle out of the pound, and when you look at your parking ticket, the parking ticket reflects you were 5 feet from the pump. The parking ticket warrior swears to it! The old NYC cocktail, a parking ticket & tow.
Shame, Shame, Shame. Once Captain Hook tows your car, you obviously cannot take a photograph to prove you parked more than 15 feet from the fire hydrant. Beware of the fire hydrant scam. Meanwhile, there are many fire hydrants in NYC!
Some fire hydrant ticket stories from members of the NYC driving public
Nick says:
“I have lived near the spot of my ticket, 120th and Claremont, for over 15 years and know the parking rules well, which is why I DID NOT park closer than 15 feet from a hydrant. To make matters worse, the vehicle is my mother’s car that I’ve borrowed, with out-of-state plates, and suspect this is why a parking warrior tagged me with a “6 feet from hydrant” bogus ticket. The ticket was issued at 9:33 am, and my car was immediately towed so no pictures were available. My blood boiled when I discovered my missing car. What can I do? It will cost me more to miss work than pay the $300+, but this just ain’t right, picking on “tourists” or whomever is gullible enough to park on corrupt NYC streets. Please advise!!! Posted @ Thursday, March 25, 2010 4:17 PM by Nick
Norman says:
My story is similar to the one above (120th & Claremont). I was parked on Claremont just north of 122nd St. more than 15 feet from a hydrant. My car was ticketed and towed with the violation stating that I was parked 5 feet from a hydrant. I appealed by mail and the appeal was denied. My building superintendent told me that the same thing almost happened to him. However, he was present when they were about to ticket his car. He asked the officer what was the problem and the reply was that the car was too close to the hydrant. The super demonstrated that the distance was over 17 feet by pacing it with his feet. The officer apologized and proceeded on his way. This clearly indicates that this outrage is a pattern that could be citywide. I consulted with my State Assemblyman’s office and they supported my decision to make a second appeal. I will let you know how this turns out. This is a serious situation and the media should be alerted to what is going on. I appreciate this blog as a valuable tool for achieving justice. Posted @ Wednesday, April 28, 2010 9:36 PM by Norman
James submits a form and says:
“You mention that the best way to prove that a parking ticket is invalid is by proving that my vehicle was parked legally. What if my car was towed immediately upon the issuance of the violation? I parked what I am confident was an adequate distance from a hydrant. I went to check on my car about 8:30 AM, and it was gone. I went to the impound lot later that day to retrieve my car, and I found that the ticket was issued at 8:09 AM. Its clear the ticket agent was working on or with a tow truck. At this point, the only defense I can see is that the location submitted is inaccurate and doesn’t mesh with the distance to the hydrant (the location is an estimation in feet from the nearest cross street). Without the chance to photograph my car where it was, I don’t know what else I’ve got!
The best offense is a good defense
I sound like a broken record (Frank Sinatra would be nice). When you park your car near a fire hydrant, you must hope for the best but prepare for the worse.
Capture the distance between your vehicle and the pump with your cell camera. You should include some landmarks in the photo, along with your car and fire hydrant. This way, you can measure the distance from the landmark to the fire hydrant if Captain Hook tows your car.
Don’t just park there; protect yourself. You face a $115 parking ticket with no reduction.
Another, please, please do not park within 15 feet of the pump. It is a natural, live safety hazard. Do not park 15 feet and one smidgen from the pump. Play it safe and document your distance with a few cell camera photographs. You’ll be glad you did.
Commentary
I prepared my opinions in the last part of my blog posts. I would add one thing—shame on the warriors and tow operators engaged in this scam. Good people pay good things forward, and bad things are paid back. Let’s alert the media. Send letters to the NYC DOF and the NYC DOT and include the name and id number of the warrior and tow Guy/Guyette.
Here’s an example of the only type of parking sign that allows you to park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant (on a particular day)
This bad behavior has to stop!
Please join the conversation if this scam happened to you!
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You may not beat a fire hydrant ticket and tow scam, but you can beat a fire hydrant ticket. Meanwhile, here is how you avoid some common mistakes. And, how you fix them.
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Parked on Thursday 12/19 at 11 am at the spot where I have been parking for the last two years without any issues. On Saturday 12/21 went out from home to go to work at 6 am. The car was gone. Called 911. Officer came and said that my car was towed on 12/19 at 6.20 pm. After he made a surprised face and said that I also got a ticket 10 minutes before. He measured the distance with me and said that it’s about in range and he will be never gave a ticket at the same situation.
Well: ruined day, destroyed mood and – 365$ from my pocket. I was so upset that at that moment I wish my car was stolen. In that case insurance cover everything and you not feel so embarrassed by your own government.
Be careful and we have to fight with that corrupted scam NYPD agents. Name of agent Phuong J. Command T-730. Good luck everyone and go to hell scum agents.
Hi, Anatoly,
I am so sorry to learn about your parking pain. Parking Ticket Land can be pretty cruel, especially when it comes to violating the fire hydrant rule.
The Evil Empire requires a chariot to park more than 15 feet from a fire hydrant unless a licensed driver of a passenger car remains in the car seated behind the wheel between sunrise and sunset. Sadly, you violate the rule if you park 14 feet and 11 inches from the hydrant. “Parking in the range” is not the standard. There is no range.
Beware of Cops or Warriors bearing empathy or claiming they would never issue a fire hydrant ticket “in the range.” That’s a bunch of BS! Of course, they will.
A word of advice based on 10-years fighting NYC parking tickets. Keep a tape measure in the glove compartment and make sure you park more than 15 feet from a fire hydrant, especially if you are the closest car to the fire hydrant. Snap a few photos showing exactly where you parked your car in relation to the hydrant (time and date on the photos if possible). Or include a landmark in the photo such as a sidewalk slab.
Good luck.
Park safely.
Regards,
Larry