A Complete Guide to the Evils of an NYC Tow
An NYC tow is every driver’s nightmare
How did you feel upon returning to your parking space and finding it empty because of an NYC tow? It was an out-of-body experience that we never want to repeat. But, just in case your chariot gets towed (again), here’s a guide to the whys, wherefores, costs, and steps to take to redeem your vehicle.
There are three types of tows in NYC
- The parking ticket and tow
- The police tow
- The judgment tow
All NYC is a tow-away zone, no notice or prior warning is required. This evil edict was enacted in 1959 by our friends in the NY State Legislature and still holds true today. Here’s a link to a case interpreting this evil edict, Cohen v. The City of New York, 69 Misc.2d 189 (1972). Therefore, your chariot can be taken by Captain Hook at any time without any warning.
All of NYC was designated a Tow Away Zone under the state’s Vehicle & Traffic law in 1959. This means that any vehicle parked or operated illegally, or with missing or expired registration or inspection stickers may be towed
The NYC ASP Suspension calendar
In other words:
- Your car may be towed at the whim or caprice of a cop or warrior if you are issued an NYC parking ticket. [Technically, it should be towed only if it presents a safety hazard]
- You are subject to a “police tow” by the N.Y.P.D., If you get a parking ticket and have $101 in unpaid parking tickets in judgment
- If you are forced to park your car in NYC or silly enough to think it will go unnoticed and have $350 in judgment, you are subject to tow by an NYC marshal or sheriff. This tow is called a judgment tow
Here’s an Infographic about towing and booting in NYC
[slideshare id=37215960&doc=yourcaristowedinnyc-140721173847-phpapp01]
5 resources you need to know when your chariot is towed or immobilized by Das Boot
- A list of the blog posts you’ll find on Larry’s Parking Ticket Blog about towing in NYC. You can also find these seven blog posts by searching “Find related Posts” located in the sidebar of the blog. Enter the word, “Tow” and voilà!
- You may wish to check out the NYC Department of Finance web page about “Vehicle Booting.”
- The NYC Department of Finance web page about “How to Redeem a Towed Vehicle.”
- How to Get a Satisfaction of Judgment, Registration Clearance or Vehicle Release Document
- How to locate your car when it’s been towed
A refund of your tow charges[Tweet “Your tow charges will be refunded if you beat the parking ticket connected with your tow”]
For example, you’ll get a refund of your tow charges, when you beat a parking ticket for a fire hydrant violation and your car was towed. Here’s a link to the tow refund application you need to file with the Evil Empire for a refund.
Or, if you are issued two or more parking tickets while occupying the same parking space, you’ll get a refund of your tow charges, if you beat your last in time parking ticket (the parking ticket that immediately preceded the tow).
Commentary
Please do your homework before rushing down to the impound yard to redeem your NYC tow, or worse yet, send a friend without a notarized letter and the original title or registration documents to successfully redeem your chariot.
[click_to_tweet tweet=”‘A friend may redeem a vehicle with a notarized letter & the original title/registration'” quote=”‘A friend may redeem a vehicle with a notarized letter & the original title/registration'”]
Park safely.
My car was ticketed at 11:09AM Thursday for parking illegally (at a Mon-Fri no parking street). At 11:27AM my car was towed by NYPD. Is there any time restraint before they can tow my car? i mean they tow my car within less than 30 mins from they give me a ticket! ( BTW, i do not have previous unpaid tickets up to $101). Do you think i can beat the parking ticket? I already paid the tow fee of $185…Thanks for any insight!
Dear Mr. Doff,
Good morning.
I don’t blame you for being upset.
I am sorry to report that the Evil Empire can do what they did to you and your chariot. There is no time limit between ticket and tow (except the time it takes to call for and the arrival of Captain Hook). Since all NYC is a tow away zone, no notice required, we are at the mercy of the warriors and cops about when to call for a tow.
You may wish to check for defective required elements. If none, do you have a substantive defense to the charge?
Best,
Larry
Hi Larry,
My motorcycle was towed by the NYPD this morning and I was parked just passed the yellow line, about 15 feet from the hydrant. I have the location of where my motorcycle is but I wanted to reach out before going to get it out of impound. I am sure that I was not parked illegally and I have parked there numerous times with no issue. What do you recommend I do here?
Hi Jeff,
Good morning.
So sorry to hear about the ticket and tow nightmare.
I totally despise towing for alleged parking violations.
I’m sorry to say that your question is beyond the scope of this blog. Here are some thoughts:
-Yellow paint on a roadway or curb in NYC does not indicate 15 feet from a fire hydrant
-Check out the place of occurrence entered on your parking ticket (designates your parking space). Is it within 15 feet of the fire hydrant
-Examine your parking ticket for omitted, misdescribed or illegible required elements. if you find one or more and submit the proper proof, your ticket will be dismissed
-Was the date your registration expired entered correctly on the ticket?
Good luck.
Larry
My motorcycle was towed for inspection sticker. I did not realize it was invalid after July 2019. I do not have any tickets pending on any of my vehicles. I went downstairs and confronted the two NYPD tow idiots and asked “why dont you just issue me a ticket?” The response was “We do not have to give you a ticket. You inspection is expired.”
Really!! Now, I’m scrambling to recover my property. This is why I am planning on leaving NY state.
Hi, R,
Man, I totally despise towing for dollars.
Here’s a post from Reddit on the subject of towing for expired registration:
Be vigilant out there!
Regards,
Larry
I’ve been parking on my street for about 10 years a d suddenen put up a No Standing sign and I failed to notice because I’ve been parking on the same spot for many years.
Can I fight against from this unjust towing?
Thanks
Hi, Don,
What a shameful money-grab.
Here’s the pertinent law/code:
If your ticket was issued within 5-days of the installation of the new sign, and you can prove the date of installation, your ticket will be dismissed by a parking ticket judge
If your ticket is dismissed, you are entitled to a refund of your unjust tow fee.
Regards,
Larry
Can I receive information on what to do about towing companies?
My husbands car broke down on the Jackie Robinson fridsy at 4:30 or so…call after call this towing truck (nypd summoned) comes this is about 9:45p.m
Ok so they take the car to their lot..husband is told it can be picked up next day..while speaking with the guy on the highway he keeps telling him that he doesn’t know how much the tow will be. Okay!
When my husband arrived next day he is waiting for hours just to find out how much they are charging..finally he gets told $387 we did not have the money right out..so once we got the money we would’ve hoped to have the car removed next day..but nope they say they are not open Sundays (ughh) so monday and the charge would then be $457.38..they claim they charge $35 per day because it’s an suv when their sign doesn’t say so..my husband was told to ignore the sign..any tips would be great..oh yeah and they put a dent in the front bumper and refuse to pay for it.
Hi Teyana,
Man-o-live, what a nightmare!
Here’s a link to a blog post I wrote about predatory towing practices and how to fight back.
Please pay particular attention to the information about DCA regulations and the links to the DCA guidelines for tow operators…https://newyorkparkingticket.com/have-you-been-victimized-by-a-predatory-tow-in-nyc-read-this/
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
My car was wrongfully towed by NYPD traffic agent. My car was towed in an area it shouldn’t have been towed and was literally the only car towed. In result it caused a great deal of stress and loss of a days pay. Ultimately the ticket was dismissed but I would like to know if there is anything more that can be done – reporting the agent or a way to be compensated for the work time missed or both.
Hi Troy,
I hear you loud and clear. I despise towing for any type of alleged parking violation.
I don’t know if you are permitted to sue NYC for these types of damages. You may wish to check with an NYC attorney.
Warriors are supervised by the Precinct where the parking violation was issued. You can make a complaint at the
Precinct Station…Sadly, it will be a very low priority.
Good luck, Troy.
Larry
I believe my car was wrongfully towed. I parked my car where others were parking because im not from NYC and asked if I needed a special permit, everyone said no. So I parked my car and was gone for an hour and a half. I come back to see my car was towed but nobody else got towed. We called asking why it got towed and was told there was no reason posted. took pictures of the cars and the one sign that said truck loading from 7am-7pm, mind you I parked at 9:30. Before i parked I even made sure I wasnt blocking any garage or opening. Do you believe I would win my appeal?
Hi, Ian, I am unable to reply to blog comments for the next few months. My old batteries need a recharge. Sorry, Larry.
My car was moved by a private towing company hired by a construction company that was paving the street (not an Nypd tow). I could not locate my car after trying to find it on the NYC tow website so I went down to the police precinct to report it stolen. The officer typed in my liscence plate number and found the location of my car through a ticket the car had received ( the tickets were not showing up on line when I had previously checked). The officer said the towing company should have given the precinct documentation of the location of the car and the tow which it did not. They also mentioned the car should have a sign on it saying not to ticket the car which it did not. When I arrived at my car there were 3 115 dollar tickets on the car because it was illegally parked!! I called the construction company and the project manager said he would get me a waiver which he has failed to do and now I have left sever messages to which he has not replied!! I don’t know what else to do! What is my next step!!? Thsbks you for your help!!
Hi, Cristina,
Man, what a shame.
Clients of mine have experienced the same challenge with construction companies moving cars and relocating them to illegal parking spaces.
The construction company reimbursed the money for the tickets for one client.
Others, I’ve fought the tickets and won most times…But, it is a pain to get the proof you need to persuade the judge that your car was relocated by a construction company and you didn’t simply park illegally.
Most importantly, you gotta prove it was relocated to an illegal space to win.
Regards,
Larry
Hello Sir,
My car got towed by the NYPD because it didn’t have the plate; I removed it with the intent to sell it. But they didn’t inform me about the towing by letter or any other mean. I checked every possible place to find information about it, but nobody had anything on my vehicle. Then when I decided to report it as stolen, I got this letter from NYPD last Friday, stating that, the car is held in certain tow pound facility, and I can redeem my car from there within 15 days,I payingtandard tow fee. But when I went there to get my car on Monday, they told me they sent the car to the auction last week! And if I want I can bring the car from there paying additional money and also will be including the (100+ miles) towing fee as the car needs servicing. Now, do they have the authority to send my car to the auction even before the 15 days period? Isnt it unfair for me to pay that additional $600/700 fee? Please advise and many thanks in advance!
Mohsin,
Ouch! What a nightmare.
Did you get a parking ticket for ‘no plate?’
If so, what date did you receive the parking violation notice in the mail?
-What date was the ticket issued?
-What date was the letter advising you of an auction sale in 15 days?
-What date did you try to redeem your chariot?
Regards,
Larry
Hi Larry,
My car was towed from a Manhattan street with a ‘No Standing 10pm-6am’ sign. I parked at 7:30pm, lost track of time and came back at 10:15pm only to find that my car had vanished. Once I confirmed it had, in fact, been towed and paid the $185 to get it back- I found the $115 ticket on the windshield. The ticket lists incorrect color of my car (BLK instead of light blue) and the incorrect location (opposite side of the street). In all fairness, both sides of the street had the ‘No Standing 10pm-6am’ sign. But still, it states the wrong location. Is this enough to dispute (and hopefully win) the ticket?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Hi, Jesse C,
Good morning.
I applaud taking the time to try to figure out a winning defense.
How will you prove that your car was parked opposite the place of occurrence entered on the ticket?
(One way may be to match your muni-meter receipt with the muni-meter machine number and argue that there was an MM near your parking space, why would you walk across the street to buy time?)
With that said, it will be a real challenge to argue the place of occurrence entered on the ticket was misdescribed. If it were me and I was towed and paid all that money, I would fight it.
Good luck.
Let me know the outcome.
Regards,
Larry
Hi Larry,
May car got towed from a no parking zone (many people park there but only mine got towed because of outstanding parking tickets). The tickets were paid as well as the $185 for the tow. When I pick up my car, I noticed they blew out the tire from their tow. They gave me some claim forms to fill out.
I needed a tow from their tow yard because it was so messed up I couldn’t even fill it with air (and they wouldn’t tow it around the corner to a tire shop).
They would have to pay for the tow as well as the new tire, correct? Can I also fight the ticket since they caused damage?
Thanks for any information!
Hi Nicole,
Man, talk about adding insult to injury.
I’m afraid your excellent questions are outside the scope of my limited expertise. I don’t know your rights to recover damages from NYC under these circumstances. Or, whether NYC is the villain.
A city, state, or municipal government is entitled to immunity under a tort claims act. However, there are certain specific exceptions to the immunity, which you may need to check out.
I trust your car was towed under the authority of a Marshall. But, again, I’m not sure whether the tow company is covered by a tort claims act.
I’m sorry that all I have are questions and no good answers.
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
Hey Larry,
So my car was towed because of some 7 day parking law I’ve never heard of. I’m from Georgia and went on vacation for a few days. I come back to a missing car. A few days later a letter comes to my GA address(where my car is registered)notifying me of the tow. It happened 2 days after I left. I didn’t have the funds to get it right away. I reach out to the precinct and they give me a nonsense answer. I get the funds together about 3wks later and in the mail I get a letter saying they’ve auctioned my car. There was no other correspondence besides those 2 letters. Is this legal??? I feel like they stole my car and sold it.
Hi, Shannon,
I totally despise towing for tickets. It is excessive and unconscionable.
With that said, the Evil Empire did what they do. Ticket, tow, and sell if the
vehicle remains unclaimed for more than 10 days.
Sorry.
Regards,
Larry
Hi Larry,
Back in April my scooter was parked on the sidewalk and one day it was gone. I called the police to report it stolen report but was told by some in my neighborhoods that they came a towed some motorcycles locally, so we thought the tow pound towed it. We called the police department and asked they said they did not see it on their records, I looked online and nothing had come up from our vehicle information. Essentially we could not find it to recover it anywhere and because the insurance was not valid there was no way to report it stolen. In the end we called it a loss because the scooter was not starting or ridable and was not insured/registered etc. because it was not in working order. It is now September I received a certified letter notice from NYC towing and signed the notice for it several times but the letter was not left and I was not in town, finally went to the post office and got the letter. It said that I had 10 days from the post date to collect the vehicle. At this point I received the notice past that date it was going up for auction so I assume per the letter it has gone to auction. Please note there is still no record on the NYC tow site and the letter doesn’t include our plates on the notice.
I’m so confused…it says that if the vehicle is sold we are entitled to whatever proceeds if any after the deduction of the tow fee, storage from the tow date (April, how I didn’t even know it was there?!?) and admin fees.
Can you help explain to me if I am going to have to owe money for this/next steps. So confused on what this letter means in general and mean for me?? The scooter is a loss I know that but what does this mean for me financially?
Hi, LT,
Good morning.
Generally, if a vehicle is sold at auction, the proceeds are applied to the outstanding fines and fees. If there is a balance left over, it goes to the owner of the scooter.
But, if there isn’t enough money to pay the fines and fees, the owner is responsible for any balance due.
I would find out whether you owed any money or whether the sale satisfied your fines and fees.
(I wouldn’t ignore this because additional fines and fees may continue to be assessed).
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
Hi Larry,
I’m taking care of my mothers car while she’s in Europe. I was parked in a Tuesday sweep zone on a Monday, yet there was a No Standing sign 15 feet behind the car. That’s not my concern. I returned to the car later that day, it’s been towed. My issue is this: The city website says I need Title, Registration, Insurance and Notarized authorization letter from my mother, even worse NO COPIES. I tried calling 311 to see where I sit in this situation, they have no info. She’s arriving exactly 10 days from the tow date. I know she doesn’t have the the title on her, it’s most likely at her home in Syracuse. If you have any advice concerning relatives retrieving towed cars it would be greatly appreciated. Nobody at 311 has answers and the Brooklyn lot hasn’t picked up their phone all evening.
Hi, Brendon,
Oh man. Sorry about your bad situation.
Did your Mother leave a power-of-attorney during her trip to Europe?
If not, can you contact your Mother in Europe and ask her to prepare and send you the notarized Affidavit? And tell you where the title is? (Assuming it’s not a leased car)
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
I parked my car and look for a sign and didn’t see anything. there was a pole with no sign on It . Other cars were parked there so i didn’t s second guess It. I came back and my car was towed. I did take pictures of where my car was parked and the sign pole with no sign in It . Further up the street was a sign saying no parking but that was about a distance of 7 cars length and wasn’t the direction in which i headed. Would i be able to get a refund?
Erik,
Oh man, what shameful behavior.
I despise towing for tickets.
Your first step is to fight the ticket.
If you beat the ticket, you are entitled to a refund of the tow charges.
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
What constitutes NOTIFICATION on vehicles towed by either the NYC Marshal or NYC Sheriff, and law, statute or regulation governs it?
Hi, Walter,
Good morning.
There are a bunch of reasons why your vehicle may be towed, which are enabled by a bunch of laws and rules. For example, if your car is parked in a lot that restricts parking to vehicles where the owner/driver shops at the merchants, your car may be towed. The NYC Department of Consumer Affairs promulgated rules that the merchant must comply with to legally tow a vehicle. Such as a sign stating the warning that vehicles will be towed and the name and address of the towing company.
Another example is a boot and tow. The police or warrior must leave a notice on your chariot that states your car may be towed two hours after booting. This power is found in 4-08.
Park safely.
Regards,
Larry
Hi, Walter,
Good morning.
There are a bunch of reasons why your vehicle may be towed, which are enabled by a bunch of laws and rules. For example, if your car is parked in a lot that restricts parking to vehicles where the owner/driver shops at the merchants, your car may be towed. The NYC Department of Consumer Affairs promulgated rules that the merchant must comply with to legally tow a vehicle. Such as a sign stating the warning that vehicles will be towed and the name and address of the towing company.
Another example is a boot and tow. The police or warrior must leave a notice on your chariot that states your car may be towed two hours after booting. This power is found in 4-08.
Park safely.
Regards,
Larry
PS…Here’s a link to how to redeem a towed vehicle
Help. My vehicle was towed this morning (Wednesday). When I first parked there, on Monday, the nearest sign stated the regular alternate side parking (No parking Mon and Thursday (8:00-9:30), so Im thinking I have until Thursday morning to move it. Well, sometime between last night and this morning they put up a new sign (or possibly a replacement sign) which was not there when I first parked. Sign says no parking except for Truck Loading and gone was my car. Towed! Can I fight this?
Hi, Janette,
Oh man, what a shame. I totally despise towing for parking dollars!
There is a law that offers a 5-day grace period if you get a new ticket because of a new sign. The grace period starts on the date of installation.
The challenge you face is proving the date the parking sign was installed. I haven’t had a great deal of success because I’ve tried a FOIL request, but it takes several months before you get a response.
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
Please help !!!! My car was parked in a “no standing” zone in the middle of a block with alternate side street parking signs all over the block. The “no standing” zone comprised 3-4 car spots. The signage was confusing. Quiet side street in Williamsburg Brooklyn.
Within hours my car got towed. When I arrived at the tow pound to redeem my car I was told that the car was also booted and that I now am responsible for the booting fine and the towing fine although on the internet it clearly just stated the towing fee.
There was no sign on my car that I need to pay the booting fine within 2 hours. I only found 2 white pieces of paper and a ticket when I picked up the car at the pound.
Is there any chance to fight the double fee ? or the parking ticket?
How can they prove to me that they booted the car first? The officer at the Brooklyn pound said a note should be in the car but there was no note. They have it in their system as booted and then towed.
Thanks for your advice !!!
Hi, Katharina,
Just horrifying. I’ve railed against boot and 2-hour later tow with double dipping. No one seems to care until it happens to them and the politicians have all ignored me. Just horrifying!
I’m afraid I don’t know how you can prove there wasn’t a boot and tow notice left on your car. Any ideas?
If you parked illegally in a no standing zone, I would look at the front of the ticket for any omitted, misdescribed, or illegible required elements. If you find one or more, you win subject to presenting the proper proof, properly.
Regards,
Larry
My car was towed by the NYPD for parking tickets in judgment, and it cost me $650 to get it back. I’m a college student who also works full time. This completely emptied my savings. When my car was returned to me, I discovered they had damaged the passenger door so badly that now it won’t open!!! They told me it takes over a year to be reimbursed for damages made by them, which really screws me because it’s a leased car and it’s due back this May 2019, which means I need to have it completely fixed by the appraisal in April! Do you have any advice on a way to speed on the process? The officer who gave me the claim forms literally laughed at me while telling me to find a lawyer. Awful, awful experience, awful people.
Hi, Megan,
Oh man. What an absolute shame!
I know of no way to speed up the process that will be less painful than waiting for a slow dose of justice.
How about contacting the media? Like, for example, Channel 7 On your side?
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
Hello Larry,
Got confused by the signes. Left car where it could legally be on meter till 5 pm. Then another sign said no standing 5-7 every weekday, other whise two hours metered parking except sunday. I came back at 6:15. Car was towed, paid $185, got car back with two tickets for same offense. One at 5:09 another for 5:33 each for $115. On top they damaged my door and tore inside door rubber lining. It’s a new leased car. What are my options?
Hi, Leon,
Oh man. What a shame!
If you get two tickets for the same violation within 3-hours while parked in the same parking space, the Evil Empire will dismiss the second in time ticket when you pay the first in time ticket.
As far as the damage to your chariot, was it a private tow company or a city tow? You’re going to have to check with a NY lawyer, but I believe you can sue a private tow company, but you may have to comply with the Tort Claims Act to sue NYC. The Tort Claims Act sets a dollar limit and restricts the circumstances you can bring a claim against a public entity (in this case, NYC). Plus limits the time you have to notify the public entity of your intention to make a claim.
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
can a newly leased vehicle (2020) be towed/seized by nyc to satisfy parking violation judgements incurred by the lessee in 2013?
Hi, Tony,
Good afternoon.
Is the registration of the leased vehicle in your name? If not, it’s not your vehicle.
After 8.3 years from entry of judgment, there can be no more attempts at collecting the judgments.
Regards,
Larry
Hello Larry,
my semi track with trailer was towed by private towing CO in violation of NYC traffic rules 4-08 (K) (5) commercial vehicle over 3 hrs, 20 min after a ticket was issued. Day before I got terrible flu with fever, dizziness, etc., thinking of COVID next day morning i was in medical facility for a test at the time when truck was towed. I paid $2186.62 to get my truck back that day. Placed the ticket on dispute with medical record. Secondary, I park on that place many times before, just figured on nyc.gov there was the same ticket 5 month ago and truck stayed there for a month untouched. Can I get back my money back???
Please replay.
Hey Sergei,
Good afternoon.
I am so sorry to learn about your illness and the costly truck parking pain.
I’m afraid that a warrior or cop can issue a commercial vehicle street storage violation if you parked your vehicle for more than 3 uninterrupted hours. Meanwhile, the fact that another vehicle got away with parking for one month, has no bearing on your ticket.
Likewise, your unfortunate illness is not a winning defense.
I wish I had better news to share, Sergei.
Good luck.
Be safe.
Regards,
Larry
Hi Larry, thanks much for your respond.
Yes the ticket is about commercial vehicle street storage violation.
What i was trying to say after “Secondary” in my message, that under my plate on NYC.gov parking violation there is another ticket for the same violation dated 05/26/21 for $65 which i never seen (I was out of country for 1 month) and parked on the same spot my truck. I got a way on 06/20/21, there was no ticket or boot. Since under my plate there were 2 tickets for $65 at the moment of towing it was the reason??? OR $101 rule doesn’t apply for commercial ? AND should i pay the first one ASAP while the second already placed on disputr?
Thank you in advance
Sergei.