Illegally Saving Parking Spaces in New York City is a No-No
How to fight back against neighbors for illegally saving parking spaces
A frustrated friend of New York Parking Ticket recently asked how to fight back against a neighbor illegally saving parking spaces on her block.
I did some research and found a terrific article from a fascinating website about the evil tactics of NYC parking vigilantes. A Channel 7 News investigative reporter recently publicized this lousy behavior.
“Parking Vigilantes”
Anyone who’s ever driven in New York City knows the value of a good parking spot and how impossible it is to keep. While that may be true for law-abiding citizens, the truly desperate or greedy are going to great lengths to keep the good spots to themselves. Forget the meter-maid; Tappy Phillips is walking the beat with Seven On Your Side.
The tale of parking vigilantes
They are known as ‘parking vigilantes.’ Their prey is the prime parking spots all over the five boroughs, and when they’re finished staking their claim, it’s free parking for them and no parking for you. That is until Seven on Your Side confronted some of these renegades on their turf.
It can be a ribbon of yellow paint, an official-looking sign, or a makeshift barricade.
Lissette Samuels, Frustrated Driver: “They do all kinds of things, so you don’t park your car here, and then you can’t find parking. All those methods are illegal methods that the ‘parking vigilantes’ employ to stake their claim to prime spots.
Samuels: “They make their own rules.”
Lissette Samuels is in parking purgatory. She says she’s unable to park when she comes to work because of homemade “no parking signs,” yellow-painted curbs, and even barricades tied down by bricks.
Samuels: “I just came here to go to work and park my car. That’s it, but I don’t need this harassment, and you know they think they own the streets.”
A comment from the NYC DOT
Iris Weinshall, NYC Department of Transportation: “To put up barricades, to paint the sidewalk is not a very equitable way of dealing with the situation.”
The head of the city’s Department of Transportation says it’s illegal to paint the curb or put up barriers to prevent people from parking. Weinshall says if they aren’t removed in a month, homeowners who live in front of the spots could face fines up to $2,000.
Weinshall: “This should not be done to the city streets. The city streets are for everybody.”
We agreed, so I tracked down the “baron” of one of the illegal barricades.
Tappy Phillips, Eyewitness News: “What are they for? Are they for saving the parking spaces?”
“Parking Baron”: “Actually, they are because we have quite a few cars.”
Phillips: “But it’s not legal to block any part of the street for your parking. Did you know that?
“Parking Baron”: “No, I didn’t know that.”
That wasn’t the only place we found ‘to curb controversy.’ In front of one of Central Park West’s most exclusive addresses, we found an official-looking sign prohibiting parking.
The doorman is making extra bucks.
Phillips: “Can you please move the sign so I can park?”
Doorman: “I can’t. You have to speak to my boss.”
Phillips: “This is a public street.”
Doorman: “You can speak to my boss.”
So the doorman got the building manager, and after he saw our camera…
Phillips: “Why is this here? Why is this sign here?”
Building manager’s response
Mr. Healey, Building Manager: “I have no problem with that… if you like, we’ll move the sign for you… We’re asking for courtesy because we want to create a right of way, that’s all.”
Phillips: “But you don’t have the right to block off a street.”
As for our Bronx parking renegades? We found their barricades were gone by Tuesday, and we were there when they painted over curbs.
The key here is always to let the street signs be your guide. Homemade signs and even yellow paint don’t mean anything if the street signs don’t back them up. The DOT has its parking posse, but they rely on people like you to report problems.
Tappy Phillips, Seven On Your Side
Commentary:
Jimmy Justice’s mantra is “If you see something, say something.” When you are injured by the bad behavior of a parking vigilante, take action.
- Report the violation to the Police
- Notify the DOT
- Call 311
- Say something
There is a rule that prohibits illegally saving parking spaces, 4-08(n)(7) states:
(7) Unofficial reserving of parking space. It shall be unlawful for any person to commit or attempt to reserve a parking space, or prevent any vehicle from parking on a public street through their presence in the roadway, the use of hand signals, or by placing any box, can, crate, hand cart, dolly or any other device, including unauthorized pavement, curb or street markings or signs in the roadway.
Have you been a victim of the bad behavior of parking vigilantes? What action did you take? Were you satisfied with the results? Please comment. Your opinion matter to all of us!
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Are you relying on Lady Luck to get away with parking in front of a driveway? A cop or warrior and Captain Hook are likely to be called by the property owner. In other words, your bad behavior will cost you a ticket and a tow. Don’t block someone else’s driveway!
Meanwhile, here’s how to get rid of driveway blockers.
I went to the police station on Sunday to report about a neighbor who continually holds spots with his vehicles parked in the middle of 2 spaces, filled garbage bags and motorcycles. And that he blocked my parking in a spot as I was backing into the space and had someone drive his vehicle front first into the spot.
The police refused to take my complaint or let me file a report.
No wonder crime is down in NY – police won’t let you file an injustice.
This man bullies the block. He is former military and polices the block in army fatigues.
Mary,
Good morning.
I am sorry to hear about your horror story.
Neighborhoods seem to be infested with this type of bad behavior. Any plans to try another strategy?
Best,
Larry
I agree… I have called too and they said it’s an ongoing issue that can’t be resolved. They did not do anything.
I have this old school Puerto Rican family on my block, they’re the only family with a house on my block the rest is apartment buildings. They have 10 cars on my 7 of them are for sale some of them has flats, they don’t ever move their cars I can never park on my own block they hold parking spaces with cars they don’t use, some of their cars doesn’t have plates. One time they left a van out front on a jack with no wheel for a year straight. These people are the worst. And there’s nothing I can do about it, but park around the corner or a few blocks away and walk home.
NYC Police don’t care. We’ve gone through the same thing for years. Even google street view captured how long it’s been going on. https://www.google.com/maps/place/79-48+Elks+Rd,+Queens,+NY+11373/@40.733865,-73.8855843,3a,75y,72.11h,75.56t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sL4NvwdYRxFLxTAmLsOXh9A!2e0!5s20070901T000000!7i3328!8i1664!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c25e56e2ecbdc5:0x8ff1701a8bb77233!8m2!3d40.7338589!4d-73.8854243
Hi Jane,
Good afternoon.
I hear you loud and clear.
Desperate parkers do stupid things.
Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Larry
An old man on my block “saves” the spot in front of his house every time he leaves by putting his garbage cans on the street. He also has a second car that is never driven but just used to hold spots for him (taking up 2 spaces). This is every day.
When I first moved here I was in the middle of parking behind him (he was sitting in his car) and he started screaming at me and backed up so I couldn’t finish my parking job. I was confused so I just went and found another spot. I didn’t know what his deal was then; now I do. He’s a dick.
Amen!
Can I report illegal space saving somewhere online?
Dear Afshan,
I wish.
But I’m sorry to say, not that I know of.
Best,
Larry
I wrote a complaint from the 311 website; you can report there if someone is blocking your driveway, parked illegally etc so I just used it as a forum to give the neighbor’s address and I even had a picture of him, his 2 cars and the trash cans he uses to block the space. I caught the pic while he was moving his car back to “his” spot one morning. Worth a try!
Velouria,
Hi!
Creative idea. Please let me know if it works.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and action on this frustrating parking challenge. (I detest the bad behavior of illegally saving spaces).
Best,
Larry
I tried the 311 too, it doesn’t have a choice for illegal saving but wrote in the comments section, they had fwd to the local police station and after a few minutes I got a reply saying that the cops came to check and nothing was wrong. Also I could not find anyway to upload pictures.
Afshan,
So it appears that 311 is a “hit or miss” proposition. What a surprise.
Thanks for reporting back, Afshan. Much appreciated.
Best,
Larry
Hi there. I went to “Report a Non-emergency Parking Condition” and I just put a link to the photo that I had uploaded to a hosting site.
https://www1.nyc.gov/apps/311universalintake/form.htm?serviceName=NYPD+Parking
Velouria,
Wow. Great to know.
Thanks for the link.
If any of our friends use it to file a complaint, please share the outcome with us.
Best,
Larry
Same here.
I’ve been fighting for this for months, this is very frustrating. My neighbors put out the cones and garbage bins to researve the spots. I even went to a few arguments with them, so I called 311 I received an email said police came out and resolved the case nothing happened; second time I had to call the cop because after I took away the cone, my neighbor’s whole family I mean whole family about 5 people staring at me by the window. An hour later the cops came slowly and told me there’s nothing they can do because they didn’t know who put the cone, apparently they know.
Things got worse, last night, I came home I couldn’t find a parking I parked at the same spot, the neighbor came out and asked me to leave because his car was coming home soon. Listen to this! I said no, he got mad and warned me that do not block his driveway, which I really did not. This morning I got a ticket on my car windshield I am blocking his driveway. Wow!! I will definitely go dispute the ticket but really there’s no way to protect my interest ? I have no intention to fight with anyone but I gotta protect my own rights. Please help !
Hi Maggie,
I worry about neighborhood disputes that escalate into the red zone.
Everyone knows the rules, but your neighbor feels entitled to special treatment
(Does your neighborhood have an informal custom to avoid parking in front of a neighbor’s home in return for giving you the same courtesy?).
Regards,
Larry
The best thing to do if someone is holding a spot is to call 911. Yes it’s not an emergency, but the dispute between you and the spot holder can turn ugly, so before it does the police will gladly come by and write the spot holder a summons. (There’s a code in Ny’s traffic rules and regulations book summonsable to criminal court for unauthorized holding of a parking spot.) the police officer at the precinct couldn’t take a complaint because complaint reports are only to be made for misdemeanors and felonys. A violation like this must be observed by the officer, so he can’t investigate it without observing it.
PJ,
Good morning.
Great advice!
Thanks very much for sharing it.
Best,
Larry
But if the person is not home, how can the officer issue a summons? I would only call 911 if there was an imminent threat. I don’t get into altercations with the person on my block.
Does this apply to parking garages too?
Steve,
Absolutely. But, many rogue garages do it all the time. Some parking space hoarders were caught charging for the saved spaces on the street. Bad garage!
Regards,
Larry
It happens to me often. When i see a person holding a spot i better give up and look for another place to park. I wouldnt want to find my tire slushed next morning. I could call the police but if i do i have to make sure i will never park there or near again. People can be cruel.
Construction workers are also “saving spots”. I received a $95 fine for parking in “his” spot and the cop honored his complaint and gave me the fine.
Joe,
Not nice. Not nice!
Was the space a legal parking space? If so, are you going to fight the ticket?
Best,
Larry
Me too!!!!
We have a doorman who works weekend nights. His weekend shift is most always marked by him placing a couple of construction cones. He only does this for a couple of attorneys that live in the building.
Tim,
Good morning.
Happy new year!
I guess tips trump fair play (and violate the law).
Thanks for sharing your story.
Best,
Larry
I am on the other end of the stick so to speak; for the last three weeks I have put a cone (purchased by me) to keep my driveway clear. I share a driveway and my neighbors are doing some work on their building and needed the space. “No problem neighbor” other driver see the debris and think its not a driveway now I am getting very nasty notes left on my care saying they will report me to DOB!!!!!!! no one signs the letter so I am unable to respond. Am I wrong?! I have owned my buildog for 22 years.
Hi Thea,
I am sorry to say that location (place of occurrence) is not a required element for status violations (expired registration). A status violation attacks your car rather than the location where you parked. If a sticker is expired, or plate not attached, it matters not where you parked your chariot.
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
Dear Thea,
I am sad to report (after dedicating 6 years, 7-days-per-week, with two months off for my heart attack) that I will no longer be answering questions on Larry’s Blog. You’ll find a treasure trove of information in the 746 Blog Posts and growing, F.A.Q.’s, and comments.
If you need help, you may wish to check out of service offerings. Here’s a link.
https://newyorkparkingticket.com/passenger-vehicles
Someone saves a spot on my block, every time he does, I just move his baracades, even if I don’t need the spot. It isn’t right. Then one day I found a traffic cone he put in the bed of my pickup truck as a “message” I guess? Now I own a traffic cone! I put it locked right in the front seat of my truck. If he wants to break in and get it, he can, I have insurance and then he’ll get arrested. I fear no man when it comes to NYC parking!
Hi PH,
Thanks for sharing your opinion about illegally saving parking spaces. And, kudos for gently reminding the offender that saving parking spaces is illegal by relocating his barricades.
Here’s my question…It is illegal to double park on the unrestricted side of the street during street cleaning. But, it is a generally accepted custom in most neighborhoods that police and warriors will generally turn the other cheek. What about saving the parking space in front of your home. Is it a generally accepted custom that a woman’s castle comes with one free parking space?
What do you think?
Larry
Help me please. I am a full time student, I work part time and volunteer part time. All I want is a parking when I come home. My neighborhood is the worst place to look for parking. Traffic cones, broken barricades, garbage cans, etc are place in front of the houses to keep the parking space. I confronted one of them earlier this evening and she wasn’t pleasant.
Hi Lalita,
Good morning.
You are a member of a large community of drivers who suffer the same anxiety every day trying to find parking near their home. I wish I could do something to ease yours and all driver’s parking pain. Sadly, I don’t have any parking permits to issue.
What would you suggest? I’m interested to hear any ideas you have to ease the situation.
Regards,
Larry
I didn’t realize how prevalent this problem was until NOW. I just searched the topic and bumped into these unfortunate and sad experiences from parking bullying. These types of behaviors are yet another indication of how poorly and un-evolved “we” are as a society. If the majority of “us” can’t even understand and practice common basic courtesy and respect, how are we to treat other overly common, and most certainly, inhumane issues such as hunger and homelessness to mention a few. Those are unfortunate and sad issues but there is an incredibly easy solution. STOP BEING GREEDY
+ SHOW SOME LOVE (beginning with the self) * UNDERSTANDING = AN EVOLVED AND BETTER WHOLE!
Hello Larry,
I have a question in regard to saved parking spaces. If it is “illegal” then why do parking officers not issue a ticket for the offense?
It would seem like this would be a major money maker for very little effort since a lot of people seem to save spaces!
I see in previous messages you may not be responding anymore but I hope to hear your opinion on this question.
Thank you for the insight.
Hi Chris,
Good morning. Great question.
Cops and warriors have the discretion to issue or not to issue a parking ticket. For example,
-Double parking on the unrestricted side of the street is frequently ignored on street cleaning days
-Parking violations are frequently ignored when a police officer parks their personal vehicle and displays his police shield
My sense is that ‘saving parking spaces’ is the type of violation that is very low on the parking ticket hierarchy and is frequently ignored (until a memo ordering enforcement is circulated in the Evil Empire).
Park safely.
Regards,
Larry
Lol this is getting out of control. I have one guy that frames his parking spot with about 20 cones.
I have another who actually pays insurance on some junk car just to hold the spot in front so she can pull his good car on the sidewalk when he comes home. Not even a driveway, right on the sidewalk infront of the house, so ghetto.
The other guy who painted the curb yellow got a ticket.
And there is a 90 year old couple that puts a garbage can to hold the spot when they leave. They are the only one who lose their spot, i guess people aren’t scared of them so they move their cone.
Survival of the fittest now.. Damn
Yikes! What a nightmare.
Thanks for sharing your story, Jose.
Regards,
Larry
Parking has recently become a huge problem in my neighborhood. People are saving spots and when you tell them it’s illegal they just dismiss you. They use motorcycles to block a whole island to park their car later. Because they are motorcycles, the cops don’t fine them even when parked on alternate side. Then there is an abandoned car with no plates or registration but a army station pass. I guess veterans don’t get fines either. There there are people that stand at an empty spot waiting for their family members car to drive around and refuse to move out of the way… what can you do at this point? I’ve called the local precinct, I’ve called 311, I’ve confronted people… no one does anything. The authorities dismiss me too. it’s just very frustrating when you’re circling around block after block for 40 mins.
Hi, Gaby,
Good morning. I totally understand your frustration.
What you described is the law of the jungle rather than following the rules of the road.
I wish I had a solution for you that didn’t involve a confrontation that might lead to a fight.
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
Hi,
I have a neighbor who created a fake garage. (he actually put a garage door on to the side of his home but it is a dummy. ) He then made a curb cut. This way he has a saved parking space. The problem for him is that the garage width is shorter than his car. He put up a sign 6 feet further than his curb cut stating that one may not park past this sign since it is a tight driveway. This way he figured he is guaranteed a parking spot at his front door. I, as well as my neighbors park after the curb cut. (even though we know the garage is bogus, we don’t want to start a fight and don’t park in front of the curb cut). Now he started gluing papers on to the windows of cars that park on his self proclaimed private parking area! Don’t want to get him in to trouble, but this has gone too far now!
Hi, Tom,
I hear you.
-Is the curb cut a “legal” curb cut? Curb Cut Approvals
-The purpose of a driveway provides motor vehicles with access to the property. A property owner does not have to have a garage
-This jerk has no right to touch anyone’s car and in my humble opinion is subject to at least a disorderly person’s complaint. Bad behavior
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
He renovated an old house which had a legal curb cut. He made the garage into his dinette/ family room and closed the wall behind the door. He has no driveway, it is a corner lot and he is attached on one side.
According to what I understand, he needs to remove the curb cut according to DOT §408 (f) (2) , it has been rendered unusable. Am I correct or not?
Thanks
Hi, Tom,
Good evening.
Let’s check out some definitions so we start on the same page.
DEFINITION
Driveway:
Driveway. Every entrance or exit authorized pursuant to applicable law and used by vehicular traffic to or from lands or buildings abutting a roadway
RULE
(f)(2) Driveways. In front of a public or private driveway, except that it shall be permissible for the owner, lessor or lessee of the lot accessed by a private driveway to park a passenger vehicle
registered to him/her at that address in front of such driveway, provided that such lot does not contain more than two dwelling units and further provided that such parking does not violate any
other provision of the Vehicle and Traffic Law or local law or rule concerning the parking, stopping or standing of motor vehicles. The prohibition herein shall not apply to driveways that
have been rendered unusable due to the presence of a building or other fixed obstruction and, therefore, are not being used as defined in §4-01(b) of these rules
If the location of the home doesn’t allow vehicular traffic to enter and exit the property, then the curb cut does not front a “usable” driveway. Ergo, you can park in front of the curb cut.
But, I don’t see where the rule requires the property owner to repair the curb cut.
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
This is why the authorities have to step in and take this seriously. I have seen people get into physical altercations over parking and I’ve even heard of people getting shot over it. If you do not enforce the parking rules in a city of almost 9 million people, people will start to take this issue into their own hands – leading to vandalism and violence. It is stressful enough dealing with parking as it is. This is why NYC is increasingly becoming hostile to cars period, because people abused the privilege of owning a car.
Hi, Anonymous87,
Thanks for sharing your thoughtful comment.
Regards
Larry
Hello would i get i trouble if i put a letter on all rhe car o the block to infrom them to stop double parking to have sone common curiosity.
Hi Amanda,
Good morning.
No good deed goes unpunished.
Here’s your answer
Regards,
Larry
There is a new app that the tv news stations are fawning over called Parkaroo. Because the ridiculous app was supposedly created by a teen and he thinks it’s socially acceptable because it reportedly gives a percentage to charity. However what the news fails yo mention is that the city should be suing this app/ company because saving any parking space is illegal! I oppose this app and I think it should be shut down right away!
Hi Bloomy,
I agree 100%.
What if another “non-Parkable” car shows up first and sees the driver behind the wheel then along comes the Parkable driver and tries to grab the parking space. Yikes!
Thanks for the heads up!
Regards,
Larry
unfortunately the same situations goes on and on in NYC. I guess it is okay to “save” a parking spot by standing in one. I called the police they did show up, the person who was holding the spot still standing at the spot. Nothing was done, nobody is getting the spot but a NYPD car!!! Speechless..
Hi NycRego:
Good afternoon.
Oh, man. There is currently a proposed law pending in the NYC Council prohibiting saving a parking space by sacrificing life and limb by foolishly standing in the space.
Hope it passes, quickly!
Thanks for sharing your story.
Regards,
Larry
I have a question if this is legal: There is a mechanic across the street (in front of his shop is ‘no parking’ regulation for his purposes obviously, so he can work and have space for his cars. But across the street is only restriction for cleaning day, anyone can park. My question here: is it legal to keep all broken cars parked along that street for days, weeks or even longer – he moves them away for street cleaning hour then parks them back taking all spots for residents. I noticed there is a parking lot around the corner that belongs to them and is often full with broken cars. I find this unfair than his business takes all this parking spots and someone like me has to look for parking far away from home. Can i report it to the city? Or would this be just a waist of time? Thank you for any advice!
Hi Lucy,
Good afternoon.
I understand your well-deserved frustration and reluctance to take action that may create a problem for you.
-If the no-parking sign is a “legal” sign installed by the DOT, then he is violating the rule. But, you would have to find a cop of a warrior to write the ticket
-If the sign is not a “legal” sign but one that keeps the space vacant for him then you may contact:
1. The police precinct
2. The DOT to remove the illegal sign
3. Your community board
4. Alert the media
The street storage parking rules prohibit storing a vehicle for more than 7 days (See Street Storage Rule, 4-08(m)(9))
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
While I don’t hold spots for long periods of time. If let’s say I’m not parked on my block, and I find a spot on my block. I will stand in it while my gf gets the car on the other block.
I don’t see anything wrong with doing that since I’m taking my own time and taking possession of the spot with my own body for 5-10min while my car is brought over. I never use cones, tape, paint etc.. But I will hold it with my self. I don’t see how that would make anyone a vigilante or baron of spots doing it the way I mentioned.
We all often try to avoid sweeper days too. So let’s say next day is sweeper day and I find a spot on the other side of the street, and I stand in it while the gf brings the car to that spot. I’m opening one spot while grabbing the spot I want using my own body & time to take possession of it.
It’s the only real fair way to claim a spot.
Hi Juggy,
Good afternoon.
Thanks for sharing your opinion about saving parking spaces. In the same vein, what would you do if a person pointed a gun at you and told you to move? Or what if a person shot first? Or, got out of his car with a little “parking rage” and pushed you?
You seem like a nice, thoughtful person. But, it’s not you that I’m worried about. It’s the person whose blood pressure shoots from 0-100 when he sees you standing in an otherwise open parking space.
Parking is difficult in NYC. The parking rules/laws are complicated and difficult to comply with. But, I realize that we all have to figure out the best way to find vacant parking spaces with the least amount of wasted energy and expense. Is the risk of getting hurt worth it? Please be careful.
Regards,
Larry
I live in NYC and we live on a street where it’s already hard to find parking because we live by not one but by 2 public schools so it’s hard to find a parking if your not a teacher because your not able to parking around the school and one school is actually a whole block so imagine the other little school is on the side next to my building but to make it worst the Super of my build has not 1 not 2 but 7 cars 2 vans 2 cars one of those stupid Smart cars that looks like a tunafish can 1 pick up truck and one 4 wheeled truck parked infront of my window making it impossible for those that do drive to actually find a parking spot bad enough we got the school to deal with also gotta deal with his 7 cars and no way to report him ugh I dislike that man!!
Hi IDFWY
I’ve learned over the years that New Yorkers are very resilient, but this takes the cake (or should I say tuna fish). I am speechless.
Are all these vehicles registered as passenger vehicles? Have any people in the building spoken to this street parking czar?
Regards,
Larry
I did took twoparking spots by accident back then when i was a new driver. Someone wrote a little note if i ever parked like that again taking two parking spots, he’ll keyed my car” after that i never parked like that again , i was more aware of the way i parked.