7 Things you need to know about Meter Parking NYC

Last Updated on August 31, 2023 by Lawrence Berezin

Meter Parking NYC has changed significantly in 2022

Unless you lived under a rock next to the GEICO Caveman for the past two years, you are aware of the changes in NYC meter parking. Regrettably, most of us have been living under a rock during the pandemic and are just starting to emerge.

Likewise, NYC drivers are finding a vast array of new sights and sounds surrounding their parking experience. For example:

• Muni meters are now called parking meters
• The Evil Empire is converting 14,500 parking meters from Pay-and-display operations to Pay-by-plates.
• One side of the street is called a blockface
• You can no longer transfer unused parking payments to parking meters located on other blockfaces
• And more

Are you ready to check out some essential things about parking in Parking Ticket Land?

Learn the new parking meter rules and regulations

You may want to check out my blog post about the new parking rules as a starting point. Likewise, I would familiarize myself with the latest definitions and essential changes. Such as:

• Blockface: The term “blockface” means that portion of the street along the curb on one side of a street that is between the boundaries of the corner area at either end of the block.
• Pay-by-plate parking meters: The term “pay-by-plate parking meter” means an electronic parking meter that requires entry of license plate information for proper registration of payment.
• Parking at broken or missing meters: If all parking meters in a parking field or on a blockface are missing or broken, a person shall be allowed to park in such parking field or on such blockface up to the maximum amount of time otherwise lawfully permitted by such parking meters in such parking field or blockface. But you better be able to prove the meter was broken!
• Transferability of parking meter time: Parking time may only be utilized on the blockface for which it was purchased. Transfer of parking time between blockfaces is prohibited.

How will you pay for parking?

There are two ways to pay for meter parking in NYC. For example:

• Pay at the parking meter by credit card or coin
• Learn how to use ParkNYC App

However, you will not get a receipt to display on your car after the meters are retrofitted to “pay-by-plate.”

Learn how to use the ParkNYC App

Recently, the App closed its doors to upgrade and become the best App it can be. However, there were still a bunch of glitches to overcome when the App reopened for business. Here’s the first thing you’ll see when you arrive at the ParkNYC Website.

In the same vein, here’s a great article about the reopening, “Parking App Glitches and New 20-Cent Fee Miff Motorists.”

ParkNYC went offline at 11:59 p.m. last Thursday as the DOT and app developer Flowbird began the shift to a new system. The ParkNYC app was first implemented in 2017. 
When it came back online early Monday morning, several existing users of the app told THE CITY they were flustered by having to create new accounts. They experienced long delays in receiving verification codes and paid a new 20-cent per-transaction fee.

the city

The Evil Empire lends a helpful hand.

The Evil Empire published a page on its website explaining how to pay using the ParkNYC App.

Here are the topics the page covers:

What is the significance of parking zone numbers

You will need to know how to locate the parking zone number covering your car’s parking space to use the ParkNYC App.

Each side of the street on each block has a unique six digit zone number associated with it. Parking zone numbers are displayed on the side of parking meters, on ParkNYC street signs at the end of each individual block, and on the map of the ParkNYC app.
Before you begin a ParkNYC parking session, you must use the zone number on the side of the street where your vehicle is parked. If you are not able to identify the zone number, you must pay at the meter.
You can’t change a zone number once your parking session begins. If you move your vehicle, you must start a new parking session using the new zone number, even if the parking rate is the same.
During each transaction, please review all screens and prompts and confirm your session details, including the correct zone number, before formally starting the parking session. You must check the signs, restrictions, and rates in effect in order to avoid a summons. No exceptions will be made for a driver’s error.

The Evil empire

This is where you’ll find the parking zone number

The zone numbers are the six-digit numbers on the parking meters and are attached to the parking signs.

After creating your account, do you have to add money?

Maybe yes, maybe no. In response to popular demand, the App will allow you to pay by transaction instead of squirreling your money in their eWallet. But each transaction will cost you 20 cents. That’s right, every time you pay for meter parking, there will be a 20-cent fee charged to your payment.

ParkNYC has two convenient ways to pay for your parking.
eWallet:  The eWallet option allows you to fund your account with either the minimum amount of $25.00 or choose a higher amount while only paying a $0.05 cents convenience fee for funding the eWallet. You will pay the convenience fee only when funding (replenishment) your eWallet but not on the individual transactions. 
Pay per Transaction: Use the app to pay for parking for a single parking session when you need it. A convenience fee of $0.20 cents added to the cost of your parking payment. This convenience fee also applies to purchase of parking session extension(s).

FAQ’s ParkingNYC App

Check out the Parking Meter Map

Here’s the link.

Commentary

So, what do you think about all the changes in meter parking in NYC? What will you do with the money left over from parking at a meter now that you can only use the bucks in the same blockface? Are you going to use the ParkNYC App? Or, pay in person at the parking meters?

Likewise, we await the upcoming magic trick of turning all the muni meters into parking meters.

The Evil Empire never ceases to amaze!

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