Last Updated on September 4, 2017 by Lawrence Berezin
Your car can be booted or towed for parking tickets in judgment in excess of $350
Sadly, there are many reasons why your car can be booted or towed in NYC. One reason is that you accumulated more than $350 in parking tickets in judgment.
If you do not pay or dispute your ticket within approximately 100 days, it will go into judgment. This means the City takes the legal step of entering a default judgment against you for the entire amount plus penalties and interest. The City can take steps to collect the debt, such as sending your debt to a collection agency or seizing assets. If you have more than $350 of tickets in judgment, your vehicle could be booted or towed.”
Marshalls and Sheriffs drive around NYC searching for chariots with parking tickets in judgment. They simply shine their magic light on your license plate and learn whether your car is eligible for a judgment tow. Here are some useful tips to know if you are trying to dodge Captain Hook.
What do you think about this proposed new law?
There is a law that was introduced by Council Member Brad S. Lander to increase the $350 to $500. Here’s the text of the proposed law:
By Council Member Lander
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the removal of motor vehicles to satisfy parking violations.
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Section 19-212 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended to read as follows:
§19-212 Limitation on removal of motor vehicles for purposes of satisfying parking violation judgments. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a motor vehicle shall not be removed from any street or other public areas solely for the purpose of satisfying an outstanding judgment or judgments for parking violations against the owner unless the total amount of such judgment or judgments, including interest, is greater than [three hundred fifty] five hundred dollars, or such judgments exceed five parking violations. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to prohibit the removal of a motor vehicle which is illegally parked, stopped or standing.
§2. This local law shall take effect thirty days after it is enacted into law.
Hip, hip hooray for Council Member Lander…But, will this new law see the light of day?
Commentary
I totally despise towing a vehicle for parking tickets. NYC has a costly schedule of parking fines that are more than sufficient punishment for bad parking behavior.
However, towing a vehicle for parking tickets in judgment is a little different. Here you’ve allowed your parking tickets to fall into judgment and stay unpaid. NYC has the same rights to attempt to recover the judgment debt by lawful means as a private judgment creditor. And, believe me, NYC will try and try and try again and again!
If at all possible, pay or fight your parking tickets before they lapse into judgment in about 100 days from issuance. Please don’t think you’re going to artfully dodge Captain Hook when you park your car in NYC.
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Thanks for the article. I have a question. Is there any law that you are aware of that states a car cannot be towed for overdue tickets if the driver is disabled and has the placard displaying. It happened to me. I had about $400 in unpaid tickets but because I am disabled and cant work, I had been unable to pay them off. I went to try to establish a payment plan but they tacked on boot fees and tow fees and storage fees bringing the total way past $1100 dollars that I cannot afford. So I’m just wondering if there any laws or procedures regarding this scenario.
Thanks
Steve,
I apologize for the delay in replying to your excellent question.
The idea that parking fines criminalize poverty and loss of a job has been a topic for discussion for a while now.
However, I am not aware of any laws, rules, or programs that help.
Sorry, I can’t offer and actionable insights.
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
Question?
can a car be booted if parked in a private driveway?
thank you for taking the time to help me with this.
Hi, Annette,
Good morning. Great question.
I don’t know the correct answer myself, but here’s what Google says:
Is it legal to boot cars on private property?
“Vehicles may be booted only if they are in a secure location that is reasonably accessible. The act prohibits entities from paying private property owners or lessees for the privilege of booting vehicles on their property. … No entity may charge a boot removal fee before notifying the local police department.
http://www.cga.ct.gov › SUM AN ACT REGULATING THE TOWING OF MOTOR VEHICLEShttps://www.cga.ct.gov/2015/SUM/2015SUM00042-R02SB-00509-SUM.htm
Regards,
Larry
question can my car be booted or towed while am disputing my tickets and waiting to hear back from the judge
Hi Pedro,
What a sad commentary on our system of parking ticket justice. But, I’m afraid you can get a ticket while waiting for a judge’s decision.
Sorry to share some bad news.
Can you beat the stupid ticket?
Regards,
Larry
Will you get towed/booted if you have over 350 dollars in tickets that aren’t in judgment?
Hi JB,
Good morning.
There are a variety of reasons to win a tow from the Evil Empire or marshall. But, for a judgment tow, you gotta have $350 in judgment. It is not sufficient to have $350 in ticket fines.
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
Hi
We have multiple cars registered under our company’s name, one of our associates got over $400 judgment tickets with company car!! ,
my question is can marshals tow other cars registered under the same company name or only that specific license plate with $400 unpaid would get towed away?
Thank you
Hi Sam,
Great question. I’m afraid I don’t have a great answer. If you’d like my best guess, the answer would be yes.
-The company technically owes the money for parking fines to NYC.
-A creditor has the right to go after the assets of the debtor
-Any car registered to the company would be an asset and fair game.
Please keep in mind that this is only my guess. I don’t have a rock-solid answer for you, Sam.
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry