More Valuable Information about NYC Fire Hydrant Parking Tickets

Last Updated on May 17, 2020 by Lawrence Berezin

Here is the NYC fire hydrant parking tickets rule in all its majestic confusion

This is the second in a series of three posts about The NYC fire hydrant rule and how to avoid parking tickets

“Hydrants. [Stopping, Standing, and Parking is prohibited] [w]ithin fifteen feet of a fire hydrant, unless otherwise indicated by signs, or parking meters, except that during the period from sunrise to sunset if standing is not otherwise prohibited, the operator of a passenger car may stand the vehicle alongside a fire hydrant provided that the operator remains in the operator’s seat ready for immediate operation of the vehicle at all times and starts the motor of the car on hearing the approach of fire apparatus, and provided further, that the operator shall immediately remove the car from alongside the fire hydrant when instructed to do so by any member of the police, fire, or other municipal department acting in his/her official capacity.”

What if an NYC parking sign permits parking by a fire hydrant?

An overlooked part of the confusing NYC fire hydrant rule allows the driving public to park their chariots within 15 feet of a fire hydrant if a parking sign permits parking.

So, if a sign prohibits parking between 7 AM-4 PM, with an arrow pointing in the direction of a fire hydrant, while permitting parking all other times; and there are no other parking signs between the no parking sign and pump, does this qualify under the rule as a parking sign permitting parking within 15 feet of the fire hydrant before 7 AM and after 4 PM? According to the plain language of the rule, YES. The big but is you absolutely run the risk of being issued an NYC parking ticket.

Here is an example of a parking sign that 100%, unambiguously permits parking within 15 of a fire hydrant:

How about parking meters?

“If a sign or meter authorizing parking results in a parked car being closer than 15 feet to a fire hydrant, it is permissible to park.” Traffic Conundrums, written by NYC’s ex-traffic commissioner, Gridlock Sam Schwartz.

I agree.

Commentary

• I beseech you to exercise extreme vigilance when deciding whether to park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant. Although the letter of the rule says you can park in the pump zone if indicated by a parking sign; I’m leery about whether that language will be interpreted in favor of the driving public by a parking ticket judge.
• If a parking sign allows you to park in a space regulated by a meter, and a portion of your car extends into the 15-foot ring of hell that encircles a fire hydrant, you can legally park in the space.
  • For example, if a parking sign permits metered parking between 7A-4P. You can park in the metered space, as long as it’s between 7A-4P

Read more…

“Customer Success Story-Fight Fire Hydrant and Win”

“How to Beat an NYC Parking Ticket when the Fire Hydrant is Hidden”

How about sharing some fire hydrant parking stories. We are all ears!

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