Why you can’t beat a parking ticket for standing in a bus stop zone
In my humble opinion, an NYC parking ticket for no standing in a bus stop zone is one of the most difficult parking tickets to beat. Here’s the rule:
“No person shall stand or park a vehicle other than an authorized bus in its assigned bus stop when any such stop has been officially designated and appropriately posted except that the operator of a vehicle may temporarily stand therein for the purpose of expeditiously receiving and discharging passengers provided such standing does not interfere with any bus about to enter or leave such zone”
What proof can you offer to persuasively persuade a parking ticket judge you:
- Stopped your chariot “temporarily?”
- Picked up or discharged a passenger “expeditiously?”
- Did NOT interfere with any bus about to enter or leave such zone?
Please keep in mind by simply issuing a parking ticket (and entering all the required elements accurately), a warrior successfully establishes a prima facie case against you…In other words, you start out guilty. It now behooves you to present the proper proof properly to persuade a parking ticket judge the cop or parking ticket warrior lied, made a mistake of law or fact, or was out to gotcha.
It is of little or no consequence your friendly passenger or prospective passenger swears at the top of her lungs that everything you testified to in your affidavit is the truth, the whole- truth, and nothing but the truth” signed Epstein’s Mother.
What if you do get a parking ticket for a bus stop violation?
How long is a bus stop zone?
Larry’s Top 10 Tips:
- A defense is not, “I parked far enough away from the bus stop sign,” “I parked at least 25 feet away from the bus stop sign,” “Other cars were parked closer to the bus stop sign and didn’t get a parking ticket,” or “How the H–L am I supposed to know the length of a bus stop zone?”
- Check for omitted, misdescribed, or illegible required elements on the front of your parking ticket. If you find one or more, you win upon application and presenting the proper proof properly
- Don’t ask Larry (that’s me) to fight the parking ticket for you because I’ve had little luck beating this evil orange epistle. I’m convinced it is the devil’s work
- If you’re discharging a passenger, what line and what time was the bus supposed to arrive (be very specific)
- Can you film your arrival in the bus stop zone, your passenger entering or exiting the vehicle, and your car departing the bus stop zone on your cell phone camera?
- Tell a detailed story and present it in an affidavit
- Prepare a detailed statement by your witness and present it in an affidavit or certification.
- Don’t forget to authenticate the film by certifying to its truth, accuracy, date, time, place, and the identity of the camera person (must sign the certification)
- Don’t forget you cannot pick up a passenger carrying any property (like a suitcase or groceries). You can only pick up or discharge an empty-handed passenger
- Check the space on the front of your parking ticket for comments. If it’s empty use it to prove you did not interfere with a bus
Knowledge is power
Learn as much as possible about how to beat a bus stop violation. Here are some earlier blog posts:
- How to Beat a Parking Ticket for No Standing Bus Stop
- Bus Stop Cancellations Trap Eliminated
Commentary
Please try your absolute best to stay away from a bus stop zone. However, if you really must stop, drop or pick up, and go in a bus stop zone, be sure to do some heavy cogitating about how to prove your case.
I love storytelling with lots of facts and no conclusions. Your facts should persuade the judge to draw the conclusion you wish. Who was it that said, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” (No, not Roy Rodgers).
[Larry’s note: Photograph of the car in bus stop zone is via “Uncivil Servants.” This is a website that posts photographs of abuse of parking permits and disobeying parking signs. Worth a visit!…UPDATE_website ]Lawrence Berezin
Latest posts by Lawrence Berezin (see all)
- The Truth About Parking Ticket Refunds and Adjournments - April 16, 2018
- Are You Making These 3 Common Mistakes Fighting a Parking Ticket? - April 2, 2018
- Eye-Popping Parking Ticket Stats and Facts for FY 2017 and FY 2018 - March 26, 2018

NYC parking tickets for these violations generate major money for our fair city. Have you fallen prey to the costly orange plague?
This E-book will help you avoid or fight these parking tickets.
THANKS LARRY,I AM NOT SURE IF I AM GOING TO GET A TICKET BUT I AM IN PANIC MODE LOL,THIS WEEKEND I WAS LEGALLY PARKED ,THE FIRST CAR AFTER THE “BUS STOP” SIGN ON THE PASSENGER WAS A GARDEN OF SOME SORT WITH METAL WROUGHT IRON FENCE AROUND IT.MY THREE PASSENGERS COULD NOT GET IN THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE GATE SURROUNDING THE GARDEN SO I HAD TO REVERSE SOMEWHAT TO ENABLE THEM TO OPEN THE DOOR OR PULL INTO TRAFFIC ON SUPER BUSY EIGHTH AVE.WELL AT THAT MOMENT AS THEY ARE GETTING IN THE CAR ,UP ROLLS THE BUS,I PANIC I WAS LIKE GET IN ,GET IN I’M GONNA GET A TICKET.BUT I HAD TO PULL OUT OF THE SPACE…WHAT DO YOU THINK LARRY?
Dear Idella,
Good morning.
It sounds to me like you are A o.k., Idella.
But, just to be safe, you may wish to check your plate online
a couple of times over the next two weeks to be sure there were no
parking ticket warriors hiding under the bus.
Best,
Larry
Hi Larry i was parked at non standing bus stop but it was only few minutes and it was far the from 45 feets …i took a picture it is work? what i have to do and can i beat the ticket ? If i only mail the ticket?Thank you…
Hi Hasan,
I hate bus stops! I am sorry to report that I don’t have any “new” tips to help you beat this ticket, except what I’ve included in this blog post.
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry