Last Updated on January 24, 2022 by Lawrence Berezin
A question that is frequently asked by New York Parking Ticket clients is, “Why did I get a NY parking ticket for parking my commercial vehicle in a commercial parking space? The answer is usually, “because your vehicle is not a commercial vehicle under the NY parking ticket laws.” To qualify as a commercial vehicle in Parking Ticket Land:
(A) it bears commercial plates; and
(B) it is permanently altered by having all seats and seat fittings, except the front seats, removed to ease the transportation of property, except that for vehicles designed with a passenger cab and a cargo area separated by a partition, the seating capacity within the cab shall not be considered in determining whether the vehicle is properly altered; and
(C) it displays the registrants’ name and address permanently affixed in characters at least three inches high on both sides of the vehicle, with such display being in a color contrasting with that of the vehicle and placed about midway vertically on doors or side panels.
A little confusing? Absolutely. Here’s a summary, which I hope helps. Your commercial vehicle must have:
- Commercial plates
- All front and rear seats and fittings permanently removed
- Except vehicles designed with a separate cab and cargo area
- Name and address of the registered owner
- In letters plainly marked on both sides of the vehicle
- At least 3 inches in height
- The letters must be in a color contrasting with that of the vehicle (For example, no black letters on a red vehicle)
- And placed about midway vertically on doors or side panels
If you outfitted your vehicle to comply with the NYC Traffic Rules for Commercial Vehicles, and you’re not sure if you succeeded; please feel free to send us a picture. We will be happy to share our opinion.
Have you received an NYC parking ticket under these circumstances? Did you fight your New York City parking ticket? How’d you make out? Please share your experiences. It will help all of us.
Please leave a comment
Hi Larry
I recently got a ticket in the mail for unaltered commercial vehicle Rear seats/fitting not Rmvd. When I was at location I noticed a nypd tow truck driver at my vehicle I ran down to my truck to find no one there and no ticket I proceeded to move my vehicle from a truck loading and unloading zone where (I was only there 15 to 20 minutes) When I noticed the truck in front of me moving up and the nypd tow truck backing up to tow me . When he noticed I pulled out he just took off. I really wanted to find out why I was going to getting towed since there was no ticket on my vehicle. And how he determined I did not remove back seat since a box was built and covered in carpet making back seat inoperable and unseeable by all the equipment and blacked out windows in truck. My point is even if back seat was removed and platform built in its place ( which I will be doing) I could have been towed . Is there something I can do to let these agents know there is no back seat.
Hi, Glen,
Good morning.
Sorry for the delay in responding to your excellent question. I just got back from visiting my children in Seattle.
I can’t give you a definitive answer due to my lack of knowledge of the exact timeline for issuing a ticket and towing the vehicle, but here are some thoughts:
-A parking ticket for an unaltered vehicle would have been placed on your vehicle at the police pound. The tow driver didn’t anticipate your quick action to remove your vehicle from harm’s way
-Inoperable is not enough to prevent a ticket for an unaltered vehicle. The rear seats and fittings must be removed
-I have no idea how the Warrior, Cop, or tow guy with x-ray vision was able to tell the rear seats weren’t removed
Good luck, Glen.
Regards,
Larry
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