Last Updated on March 12, 2016 by Lawrence Berezin
The NYC parking tickets ambush
Our good friend Joe was circling the block searching for an elusive piece of real estate to park his car. Finally, an empty parking space appears on the horizon. Joe parks his chariot, pays the toll on the poll for one hour’s worth of parking time and heads to the store. Joe returns to his parking space 67 minutes later to find his car missing in action. A casualty of the NYC parking ticket wars.
Joe’s car was towed because all NYC is a tow away zone. No notice required. It matters not that Joe earned his parking ticket for an expired meter, and was only seven minutes late. [Tweet “Anytime you receive one, single parking ticket, your car is exposed to the hook and/or boot”].
Here are Larry’s Top 3 “trickiest” parking tickets to beat in NYC.
1. Bus stop violation
How is the driving community expected to avoid a bus stop parking ticket when they are not informed about where a bus stop ends (except on Larry’s Blog)? There is no painted curb; no specific, uniform distance from the bus stop sign to the end of the bus stop zone; and therefore, the length of a bus stop varies on each and every NYC block.
Further, a parking ticket judge is loathed to dismiss a bus stop parking ticket despite your protestations, and witness affidavits to the contrary.
A bus stop extends in the direction of the arrow(s) on the bus stop sign, until the next parking sign; or if no parking sign, the end of the block. The bus stop rule permits a driver to stop temporarily in a bus stop zone to expeditiously drop-off or pick-up a passenger (but not a passenger and her belongings, suitcase, or even a briefcase) as long as the driver is not blocking a bus from entering or exiting a bus stop zone.
Fugetaboutit! I’ve fought ‘em and lost ‘em. Stay clear of bus stop zones.
2. Fire hydrant violation
Unless there is an omitted, misdescribed, or illegible required element, you are toast when issued an NYC parking ticket for parking too close to a fire hydrant. Please, keep these tips in mind:
- If you are the last car in a line of cars, and your car is closest to the pump, you can expect the orange plague under your wiper when you return to your vehicle. It matters not that you thought you were parked more than 15 feet away. Lately, it doesn’t matter that you parked 17 feet away. The warriors are on a mission to hand out fire hydrant parking tickets like they are Halloween candy.
- In recent months, even when you present proof positive that you parked more than 15 feet from the pump, you will be issued a parking ticket and a judge will find you guilty.
- However, if there is a parking space regulated by a mechanical meter within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, you are permitted to park in that regulated space. It is a little-known exception to the pump rule. Revenue trumps safety.
3. A pedestrian ramp violation and blocking the box violation (tie)
These parking violations are “tricky” because even when you obey the parking law or parking rule, you still stand a great chance of winning an NYC parking ticket. For example, parking tickets are still being issued for parking in front of a “legal” pedestrian ramp. So, you are forced to spend your valuable time fighting a scam parking ticket that shouldn’t have been issued in the first place. At least, a judge will dismiss this bogus orange epistle if you present the proper proof properly.
A blocking the box parking ticket is the devils work. We all hate box blockers. But even when you operate your car within the rules, and enter an intersection when there is sufficient space on the opposite side of the box for your car to fit in your lane of travel, or you intend to make a turn; you still stand a real good chance of getting a parking ticket because warriors don’t follow the rules and simply issue parking tickets to cars left in the box when the music stops.
Sad but true.
Commentary
I’ve noticed a marked trend in the past two months not to dismiss fire hydrant parking tickets. So, be very careful when parking near a pump.
Please share your “trickiest” NYC parking tickets. Your comments help all of us.
Do you know the difference between a driveway and a pedestrian ramp? Many parking ticket warriors don’t. Here’s how to fight an unjust parking ticket.
No standing bus ticket set up ! but i didn’t park it there, How did it get there? Ok parked on the ave on Monday, the ritual street cleaning musical chairs, returned Fri the 13th ! to drive Mom to her doctors Appointment , The entire street was a construction zone! Wheres my Car ? Asked a worker, told me look around it may be around the block in an other spot? So i find it next block down parked half way in the bus stop! What ! a ticket!!! and no cars in front of mine but more pylons with the work zone no parking tow away zone that day from 6am to 6pm, So why didn’t they place it a few feet forward to clear the Bus stop sign? ,ERRR! On purpose or inconsiderate tow operator, and why didn’t one of them explain it to the ticket Bomber? or leave a note on my vehicle? I found out only a 24hr notice is ok in NYC? That’s not nice but some sewer repairs or pipe laying can be emergencies? I talked to the construction foremen on sight, can you write me a letter explaining that they were responsible for my car being in the bus stop? He told me call his office, but its too late i will Monday morning but i have a feeling i’m wasting my time , can i fight this? i have pictures etc? So now i know the entire city is a tow away zone, you have to check your car everyday for these events! and its $115 fine for no standing, was i a victim of circumstance or was it was intentional? Who knows one thing for sure i’m fighting this injustice!
Dear Spiro,
Good morning.
Wow, amazing story! This type of common behavior by construction crews is grotesque.
I’m afraid that my reply to your question will be way too long.
Please feel free to call me at 800-249-5048.
I’m happy to discuss your options (no charge).
If it were me, I’d most definitely fight this stupid parking ticket.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Best,
Larry
Hello Larry, it was a pleasure talking to you on the phone and appreciate your motivation you gave me to pursue this matter. So i have an update of the situation, I located a PDF on line pertaining to lane closures for construction called.
“hwyrules.pdf” which state , Section 2-02 (g) Notice of street operations.
(2) Permittees shall notify the Police Department and the communications center of the Fire Department of all construction activities requiring street closing at least twenty-four hours in advance of the commencement of non-emergency work.
(3) In the event that any non-emergency construction work results in the closing of
(i) more than two-thirds (2/3) of the moving lanes per direction on any street for more than 15 minutes per hour between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., or
(ii) half (50%) or more of the moving lanes per direction on any street or limited access roadway, for a duration of more than four minutes or two traffic light cycles of the nearest traffic signal, whichever is less, during all other hours,
the permittee shall post at the site of the closing a public notification seven (7) calendar days prior to such closing in a manner directed by OCMC.
So i was right about only 24hours public notice, unless as stated in (ii) as indicated above. Did they close down half a moving lane? Then i call the construction company office to request they help paying the ticket , i talked to an operator ,i calmly described the events and why i felt i was not responsible for this violation and all the circumstances . He messaged the Owner of the Co and said he would call me back ? Well he Jimmy did call me, it surprised me that he was sympathetic to what had transpired, he explained yes we did move your car but at that time there was no suitable parking to relocate it too, the bus stop was where the field manager picked as best for all? He also explained the only other alternative would have been to transport it to the impound yard and i would be on the hook for more fees! I brought to his attention that 7 days public notice was not displayed at the sight, yes he knows but that their construction zone never exceeded 12 ft from the curb and they did give 24hrs notice which is all that is required. Ok but they were in the area and posting public notice 7 days in advance would have avoided my vehicle blocking. He agreed with that logic and says he knows how tough parking is here being a former resident of Long Island City himself for 15 yrs. He went on to say although it is out of the ordinary to do so he will pay the ticket for me! Since i spoke calmly , was respectful and came across as a nice guy when confronting his field manager and operator ,not behaving in the typical manner yelling and cursing, chewing them out about the ticket. We talked for a short while and he told me the construction was to install Verizon fiber optics in my area. He called the manager on sight to see if he had enough money , he did so i got it! Moral of the story is Karma and treat others like you want to be treated, So technically i am not beating this ticket. I beat it in the most important sense. Happy ending ! yea
Dear Spiro,
What an absolutely delicious ending to your parking ticket experience. Kudos for you for taking action, in a respectful manner.
I’m going to publish your story as a blog post, too.
You made my week!
Best,
Larry
Larry this is only the 2nd time i get to not pay for a parking ticket, the first time was getting one due to a sign missing from a pole, indicating parking in front of it was legal! You’d assume a slam dunk ? I recall little about the details but it was a little complex back then before internet, not to mention the time and phone calls and spending $20 developing pictures to submit. So far this year i have paid the city $90 in parking fines, this one would have made this yr a record breaker! As a rule of thumb ,i assume i will get at least a minimum of 1 per yr to lesson the shock when it happens, Which has been the case averaged out for someone who only uses it for shopping , visiting family and taxiing my mother to doctors. I think i achieved recently a 3 yr stretch of no parking tickets! But good things never last. Times have changed and i never saw so many ticket agents in my neighborhood on a daily basis Compared to back when i first started driving in the early 80’s. They will get you 100% Guaranteed for anything and everything! Expired inspection sticker? They have your car already scheduled for the ticket if you forget etc. Keep your cool when talking to people on the phone, unless your calling to just let off steam and know its a lost cause!
All the best to you Larry! ,
Spiro
Spiro,
Great stories.
Love ’em!
Thanks for the well wishes.
Best,
Larry
Larry i have one more bus stop story for you. It was the day i got respect
from a ticket agent that changed how i view them. I ran out of gas one day
pulled into a bus stop not to block traffic, there i was a sitting duck, too
poor to afford a big ticket, petrified to leave it to walk to the nearest gas
station, about a 20 minute walk both ways, and on a very busy Ave to
boot! Within minutes here she came, Sir you must move your Vehicle
immediately or get a ticket!
ok my response was i need help! i’m out of gas what should i do? this was
back before cell phones! She said oh that’s too bad you running out of gas,
i won’t ticket you go get your gas and move your car, but it may take me
30 mins, its a far walk, some other agent will surely ticket me? she instructed
me to place a note in my front windshield explaining i broke down in the bus
stop and going for gas to move it., and would inform the other agents in the
area. I was very doubtful i would escape that ticket, but after the long trek
there was my car, and no ticket ! Wonder if they would treat a motorist that
way in the present? Hope so ,take care i’ll be back for the next unjust ticket !
(Funny how these parking experiences get burned in our brains memory?)
Great sight Larry !
Spiro