Is my Pick-Up Truck Properly Registered as a Passenger Vehicle?

Last Updated on September 23, 2021 by Lawrence Berezin

An NYC parking ticket pick-up truck story

Joe had a question about a parking ticket for his Toyota Tacoma. His pick-up truck was fewer than 6001 lbs. (unladen weight). And, registered as a passenger vehicle.

A parking ticket warrior charged him with a status violation for “standing or parking a vehicle which is not properly registered.” And entered, “uncapped passenger vehicle” in the comments section of the parking ticket.

Joe asked me, “Can I beat this ticket? That is to say, does my passenger truck with an unladen weight of fewer than 6001 pounds require a cap to be properly registered?”

Commercial pick-up truck overnight parking

When you’re right-FIGHT

Likewise, to cap or not to cap is one of the mysteries of the NYC Parking Ticket Land. I’m going to throw my thinking cap into the ring and share my humble opinion.

To clarify, Joe was charged with a violation of VC 83/ 34 RCNY (j)(1) . The rule provides:

“No person shall stand or park a vehicle bearing a New York license plate or plates unless it is properly registered in accordance with the laws and rules of the state of New York”

The NY DMV “Information for pick-up truck owners” Guide provides:

• Choice of Registering as Passenger or Commercial- Pick-up trucks with an unladen weight of 6001 pounds or less, that are used as a personal vehicle, may be registered in either the commercial or passenger class. In either case, you will pay a commercial registration fee, along with any commercial use tax applicable to your county (form MV-202C).

There is absolute, no none nada, mention that Joe’s pick-up truck must be capped to be properly registered as a passenger vehicle.

Here’s a helpful checklist for pick-up truck owners published by the NY DMV. It’s FREE to download. No email address is required.

Present the proper proof, properly

I recommended that Joe fight his parking ticket online, submitting

-Defense certification

-Exhibits:

• Weight ticket or some official document setting forth the exact weight of Joe’s pick-up truck

The unladen weight of your pick-up truck is stamped on a metal plate located on the door of your vehicle. The unladen weight is also listed on your title certificate.

• The registration

I am keeping my gnarled, old, arthritic fingers crossed for a dismissal of Joe’s parking ticket. I hope soon, so I can uncross my fingers.

NY DMV Part 106.6 describes the circumstances under which you can register a pick-up truck in the passenger class. This is stuff you should know if you own a pick-up truck and plan to park it in NYC. Simply click on the image below…

FREE DOWNLOAD