Last Updated on November 4, 2022 by Lawrence Berezin
The NYC fire hydrant tickets rule
This blog post is the first in a series of blog posts about the NYC fire hydrant tickets rule to help you avoid fire hydrant parking tickets.
The nasty, costly fire hydrant rule:
(e) General no-stopping zones (stopping, standing, and Parking prohibited in specified places. No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle in any of the following places unless otherwise indicated by posted signs, markings, or other traffic control devices, or at the direction of a law enforcement officer, or as otherwise provided in this subdivision:
“(2) Hydrants. Stopping, Standing, and Parking is prohibited] [w] within 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 their official capacity.”
Can you “stop, drop and go” within 15 feet of a fire hydrant?
YES. But, I would argue that you can also “stop, drop, and stay” if you otherwise qualify for the exception to the fire hydrant rule.
Takeaways
- You are permitted to stand your vehicle within 15 feet of a fire hydrant between sunrise and sunset, as long as a licensed driver is seated behind the wheel, with the keys, ready to move the car when instructed to do so by a person authorized under these rules.
- A commercial vehicle cannot stand within 15 feet of a fire hydrant. In other words, the exception to this rule is limited to passenger vehicles.
- Your excellent, intelligent, 15-year-old son, who will be getting his license soon, cannot remain seated behind the wheel to qualify for the exception while you run into the coffee shop.
- Try not to fall asleep in the front seat while waiting for your child to finish her violin lessons because you are not ready to move the car when the warrior or cops show up (and you know they will right after you fall asleep).
Do you stop, drop, and stay within 15 feet of a fire hydrant? Any NYC fire hydrant ticket stories? Please share them with our community. It helps all of us when you do.
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I received a ticket for parking near a hydrant…1 question I have relates to this statute and errors on the ticket. The statute, as I understand it, is 15 feet. However, my ticket says 5 feet. I was parked more than 5 feet away and appealed, but it was denied because of the 15 foot statute. Can I still win on appeal because the ticket was wrong?
Dear Neil,
Good morning.
I am sorry for your parking ticket pain.
You are correct about the “legal” distance between your chariot and a fire hydrant…15 feet.
A parking ticket warrior is required to enter his guess about the distance you parked from the pump. This number is rarely accurate, and may simply be the warrior’s lucky number. The only requirement is that she enters a number. Accuracy be damned.
The fight isn’t between the warrior’s number and accuracy. Your challenge is to persuade a judge that you parked more than 15 feet from a fire hydrant.
When I fight a fire hydrant parking ticket, I may use the inaccurate figure to impeach the warrior’s credibility, but that’s all it may be good for. It is not the basis for a fight or an appeal.
Best,
Larry
Thanks, Larry…I appreciate it even though it appears I’m out $115. If I’m correct, then 15 ft on either side of a hydrant – so 30 ft total – should be clear. I’ll go issue tickets for a weekend and charge the city 5% of the value of the tickets…might be able to retire!
Can I have a piece of that action? We’ll both retire, Neil. Best, Larry
Hi Larry, days ago I got a ticket for standing near fire hydrant.
The story is: I left driver seat, however, my car was running and hazard light was turned on, there’s also someone on the front passenger seat (but she has no driver’s license).
My friend on the front passenger told the police I was just to drop off something. And my friend called me right after. The police lady didn’t listen, she started to print the ticket.
I showed up within a min after my friend called me (saw her still printing the ticket). When I try to talk/argue with the police lady, she was not going to listen to me. She told me something like “this is the cheapest one ($60), I can give you another ticket for $150 if you want”, therefore I shut up, and then she gave me the ticket and walked away.
On the parking ticket, it didn’t say anything about hydrant, but these:
Section: 4-08(d)
No Parking DAYS/HRS: EXCEPT: Su / 7A-7P
Complaint’s Comments: no driver
So, should I just pay?
C,
Good morning.
I suggest you check out the following with regards to the No Standing ticket that was issued:
1. Check the days/hours the parking rule was in effect and compare them with the days/hours entered on the ticket. if the sign doesn’t match the days/hours entered on your ticket, you win…Upon application.
2. Check all the other required elements for defects. If you find a required element that was omitted, misdescribed, or illegible, you win…Upon application.
I’m curious, why did you think it was ok to make up your own, personal, fire hydrant rule? You are permitted to stop, stand or park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant …
1. Between sunrise and sunset
2. With a licensed driver seated behind the wheel
3. With the keys
4. Ready to move the car upon request by a warrior or cop
Why did you think it was ok to:
1. Leave the car
2. No licensed driver
3. Not seated behind the wheel
4. Unable to move the car upon request to do so
And, you figured you’d argue with the warrior.
I am passionate about fighting unjust parking tickets…I am passionate about imparting every ounce of knowledge I have about parking stuff to the driving public…But, you made up your own rule, got angry you got caught, and argued with the warrior…Shame on you, not the warrior! The warrior did his job.
Larry
Hi Larry,
If I remember correctly, there were cars parking nearby (ofc not 15ft near fire hydrant).
I didn’t make my on rule, I thought it was also “Ready to move the car upon request by a warrior or cop”. Because I was near there, and my friend could just call me, I was ready to move the car.
Well, I’m just not that knowledgeable about this situation, I thought it was unfair, because I was ready to move the car upon request (my friend called me, I appeared within a min)
If it’s a fair ticket, ofc I won’t argue, I’ll admit my mistake, and make sure it won’t happen again.
Thanks
C,
Well said…Thank you for your thoughtful reply.
On the lighter, dark side of fire hydrant humor…check out this video and listen for the fire truck in the background.
http://youtu.be/052S1yg-zR0
A good friend of mine and wonderful guy, Jimmy Justice took a video of a parking ticket warrior parked in front of a fire hydrant while grabbing a sandwich at a nearby deli…
You can’t make this stuff up.
Best,
Larry
Hi Larry,
I wasn’t trying to argue or say anything to defend myself, I was only here to ask whether it’s proper to “stand my car there with a passenger inside and ready to move my car upon request” (I wasn’t inside the car, but I was sure I could move the car in less than a minute. Which that was a fact, I appeared and ready to move my car when my friend called me).
Anyways, I realize my mistake now, I’ll be guilty and pay, and I will not make the same mistake again. Thanks for your replies.
Hi Larry,
I recently received a ticket for parking within 15ft of a hydrant with a white ring. My understanding was that the white ring indicates that the hydrant is out of order, which to me makes the ticket seem unfair. Do you know if this is case enough to fight the ticket?
Thank you!
Dear CP,
Good morning.
Quite frankly, I’m not aware of colored rings around fire hydrants. I’m curious how you learned that it meant a fire hydrant is not operable?
I did some research, and found this article about coloring hydrants. I’m not sure it’s relevant to your question without viewing a photograph of the fire hydrant.
http://www.firehydrant.org/info/hycolor.html
Broken fire hydrants create pain for the driving public. There is no law or rule currently on the books that permits parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, even if it’s broken.
However, there was a movement afoot to offer relief and guidance to the driving public when confronted with a broken hydrant. The movement and legislation fizzled.
With that said, If it were me, I’d fight a fire hydrant parking ticket and raise broken hydrant as a defense, if I could prove by significant credible evidence that the hydrant was, in fact, broken. This is not an “official” defense, and is a tough one to win.
Good luck.
Best,
Larry
Hi Larry,
Thank you for your time. I was very tired during alternate side hours this morning (8:30 AM – 10 AM), so I decided to pull over in front of a fire hydrant on the side of the street that wasn’t being cleaned. I was seated in the driver seat with the motor running, and I reclined my seat back and took a nap. I woke up and saw the dreaded orange envelope on my windshield attached to a $115 love note. Very frustrating because I could have left my car on the wrong side of the street and saved half. But I think I meet all of the requirements not to get a ticket, because had the officer tapped on my window, I would have been immediately available to move my car.
Also, the ticket says the nearest address and the officer checked the box saying that I was opposite that address (as opposed to in front of), and I was in fact on the same side of the street as that address.
Do I have a case here on either argument?
Dear JL,
You’re very welcome.
You have a case on both arguments.
The tipping point is presenting the proper proof, properly.
How will you prove that you were sitting behind the wheel of your chariot when the warrior issued the fire hydrant parking ticket? Did the warrior enter anything in the complainant’s comment section of the parking ticket?
Same question for the misdescribed place of occurrence. How will you prove this defense?
Looking forward to your reply.
Best,
Larry
Hi,
In response to your post regarding sitting behind the wheel of a vehicle standing within 15 ft of a fire hydrant, while getting a ticket; I got such a ticket and the warrior did not write anything in the comments. What would be considered sufficient proof that I was in the car at that time?
My wife and I, my dog and cat are moving to Seattle.
I won’t be able to reply to comments until after October 1, 2020.
Sorry!
Regards,
Larry
I heard from many people that during sunset and sunrise you are allowed to park car in front of hrdrant, car was also parked 3 to 4 feet away from pole. Is this a fact or not? Please help me with advice.
Hi Esteban,
Good morning.
You are permitted to stop, stand or park a passenger vehicle within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, as long as:
-A licensed driver with the keys remains seated behind the wheel
-Is ready to move the car upon request by an authorized traffic person
-Between sunrise and sunset
Park safely.
Best,
Larry
Larry,
My employee was parked legally at a fire hydrant. licensed operator, engine running, daylight hours and seatbelt on. An NYC officer pulled up behind him in the travel lane blocking trafic and demanded he move vehicle from fire hydrant. My employee moved away and the officer parked his vehicle at the fire hydrant,and left it unattended for more than four hours. What do we do next time this happens?
Hi Edward,
Good morning.
Your employee has totally obeyed the fire hydrant rule (motor running is not even necessary). But, the overriding rule is that we all must follow a police officer’s order.
If it were me, I would do exactly what your employee did…Move my chariot and “kick the cat” when I got home that night (just kidding about the cat).
Regards,
Larry
Hi Larry,
FedEx independent contractor here, my driver parked near a hydrant with 15ft on each side and was there for less than 30 minutes while expeditiously ,sling delivery. Can we fight this?
Hi Ex,
Good morning.
You have to prove:
-An omitted, misdescribed required element, or
-That your chariot was more than 15 feet from the fire hydrant
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
I got a ticket by parking in front a hydrant. I was beside the car so I can move the car in any emergency but after the agent scanned the VIN of the car she did not listen anything than to finish the ticket. I found that the street has East and West and she did not put that little detail in the ticket. Can I fight that ticket based in that omission?
Hi, Luis,
Good morning.
I know it’s ridiculous, but the rule states that a licensed driver with the keys must remain seated behind the wheel of a passenger car between sunrise and sunset to avoid a parking ticket for parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
-I would fight the ticket and raise the defense of misdescribed place of occurrence by saying that a place of occurrence must unambiguously describe a unique location.
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
Hi, I recently received a fire hydrant parking ticket with in 0feet. I’m a New York City Uber driver with a Tlc plate. I was dropping a passenger at 1:00Am while the traffic agent sneaks out and issue me the ticket, so I’m wondering if there is any way I can beat this ticket, I also have a video proof when he was issuing it.
Hi, Ibra,
Good morning.
A fire hydrant is a no stopping zone. I don’t think you’ll beat a hydrant ticket with the stop, drop, and skedaddle defense.
But, If you have a video showing the Warrior issuing the ticket and sticking on the car, how about a lack of service defense?
A Warrior is required to enter your name on the parking ticket if you’re sitting behind the wheel when he issues the nasty thing.
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
I got two tickets for parking near a fire hydrant in my neighbourhood, and I parked there for years without any problem, so does my neighbors. One ticket says 4 feet and second one says 5 feet. I didn’t move my car during the time, is that consider a untruthful description? I got two tickets in two different day, and my car was towed on the second day. So I paid for towing fee, and there are still two more tickets waiting for me for pay. Is it possible for me to get the towing fee refund and parking ticket dismissed ?
Hi, Jenny,
Good morning.
Yikes! What a shame.
Sadly, the fact that you parked at a location for years and didn’t get a ticket is not relevant to this ticket. The question is, did you park more than 15 feet from the fire hydrant? If so, can you prove it?
-Your burden of proof is to persuade a judge that you parked more than 15 feet from the fire hydrant. The fact that one warrior guessed the distance was 4 feet and another warrior guessed the distance was 5 feet will not win you a dismissal.
-If you beat the second fire hydrant ticket, you are entitled to a refund of your tow charges
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
I received three tickets for a fire hydrant violation over the course of three days. It recently snowed this week, so I didn’t see the tickets as I didn’t use my car. Also, all three tickets have varying measures of distance. Do they lose any credibility for this variation? (3, 4, and 6 ft). Also the place of occurrence changes (90, 140, 100ft E of Center Blvd). Same idea…?
AR,
Yikes. What a nightmare.
First, I wouldn’t waste any space trying to impeach the warrior’s credibility because of three guesses that didn’t match. These numbers are guesses that have no significance. The judge’s don’t care how off the guesses are.
Second, each distance is significant because there must be a fire hydrant located within 15 feet of your parking space. For example, if the Warrior said you parked 90 feet East of Center Blvd, I would measure 15 feet from the front of my car in one direction and 15 feet from the rear of my car in the other direction. The front or the rear of your car must be more than 15 feet from a fire hydrant. If so, you win, subject to presenting the proper proof properly.
Likewise for 140 and 100 feet.
Good luck, AR.
Regards,
Larry
Hi Larry, I really appreciate all the great info here.
I have a question about defending a ticket issued for multiple violations with possible discrepancies.
I was visiting Brooklyn from California (CA plates) and was issued a citation for No Standing and for Fire Hydrant. Warrior gave an address 262 Hoyt, which is correct, and there is a no standing sign, though it is partly obscured by a tree and I did not see it the night I parked there.
There is a hydrant on the block but it is about 75 feet away from a)where I was parked, b)where the warrior says I was parked and c)the beginning of the no standing zone. I cannot be in 2 places at once.
One other thing: the warrior marked date of offense 8/26/18 and time 10:05, but put both AM & PM.
My question is what strategy you would recommend in fighting this? Does the AM/PM mistake dismiss the entire citation? Does the mutually exclusive no standing & hydrant mistake dismiss the entire citation? or do I plead guilty to the no stopping and only fight the hydrant?
Justin,
Wow!
-The Time of violation is a required element. Ergo, if the time is wrong, you’re entitled to a dismissal of the ticket
-If the place of occurrence is not within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, you win subject to presenting the proper proof properly
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
Hi Larry.
Today I got a ticket for Hire Hydrant while I was Trying to get out of the double parked UPS truck along side but he parked in a way I couldn’t go around so I pulled upfront a little try to squeeze through but got Stuck between 2 cars. One parked in front side of fire hydrant and the Double parked ups. I got out of my car with my drivers side door open and try to find a driver in the ups truck. Meanwhile a traffic police agent parked behind the ups and stratus writing ticket. I went around the truck to find the ups driver, traffic police office asked me if this is my car. I tried to explained but he said it’s too late to cancel the ticket since he already print out and suggest me to fight. He also asked me to take a pic of the ups truck but it happened unexpectedly. The ups truck pulled out before I tooka pic. Traffic Police officer looked and took off as well left me surprised. I have nothing to prove since UPS and traffic police both put me in trouble. My question why this traffic police never gave a ticket to UPS and I got a totally foul ticket please help just note I was in tally parked within 15 feet but this Large size UPS truck came and hop my car and a part of fire hydrant space. Not happy at all. Gave me sever headache and heart broken felling as well. This is not right what had happened.
Hi, Ada,
I hear you loud and clear.
I would fight the ticket. My defense would be Lack of Service.
If you are present when a Cop or Warrior issues a ticket, she is supposed to ask for your name and enter it on the ticket. Obviously, she didn’t in your case.
The challenges you face are:
-Many judges insist you be in the car sitting behind the wheel
-If the ticket was really printed already when you showed up and identified yourself as the driver, it may have been too late for the Cop or Warrior to enter your name on the ticket
I would also check the front of the ticket to make sure there were no omitted, misdescribed, or illegible required elements. if you find one or more, you are entitled to a dismissal upon presentation of the proper proof, properly.
Hello Good Afternoon I got a ticket on a fire hydrant I work delivering packages from amazon I have videos to prove that I just park to leave the package at apartment 3H I have the videos while I scan the packages and when I leave the place less than 5 minutes window when I got home realized that I just got a ticket in that window time frame is there any chance to fight this ticket? The distance was less than 15 feet but he probably saw me with packages I left the intermittent lights on he didn’t ask me to move or something like that he probably wait after I left to put me the ticket
Hi, Rafael,
What a shame!
Do you have commercial plates on your vehicle?
If so, you are permitted to make a delivery in a no parking zone, but not no standing zone.
If not, you are not permitted to leave your vehicle empty in a no parking or no standing zone.
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
Good day Larry,
I got a fire hydrant ticket but no ticket was present on the vehicle or anywhere. Now upon inspecting the ticket I find that the ticket contains a non existent address, no such house number I could find with the city record search or via google.
So for my defense should I submit that evidence to dispute the ticket is sufficiently or should I also include where my vehicle was at the time or etc. the location they put in the zipcode is correct and the street name is correct but the house number is off by one digit hence it is nonexistent.
Please advise. I have about a week to submit, I found this summon was given when I was looking in the dispute app which I periodically check just in case.
Thanks so much
Distressed
Hi Sonia,
Good afternoon.
Congratulations, you are a winner!
I would use NYC Property Map and NYC Digital Tax Map. And, City Record Search can’t hurt—the more, the merrier.
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
Hi Larry,
I received (2) tickets for parking an illegal distance from fire hydrant (5ft from hydrant per both tickets). I left my car parked until needing to move it for next street cleaning.
Nonetheless, one ticket puts me at 25ft. from the corner and the other ticket puts me at 45ft. from the corner. Not sure how my car could be in two different places when I did not move it. The fire hydrant is about 56 ft. from the corner. My car is 15.5ft. long.
So if we do the math on ticket #1, we can take 56ft.-(25+15.5)= 15.5ft. from hydrant. So I am safe.
On ticket #2, we can take 56ft.-(45+15.5)= (-4.5) ft. which would mean I am totally blocking the hydrant and also blocking a driveway which was not listed on the ticket.
So neither ticket is correct.
Moreover, ticket #1 places me East of a street that is on the East/West axis, so it is physically impossible for me to be east of something that’s running East so I have no clue where my car is parked on this ticket…
These tickets are clearly contradictory and make no sense. In my mind I am parked legally, I have some photos with a timestamp and tape measure showing that I am about 16 to 17 ft off the hydrant which would be the correct math for ticket #1…
Do I have a case? I feel like I shouldn’t even fight the distance but rather the misinformation. Would love your thoughts! Thanks!
Hi Alex,
Good afternoon.
Wow. Your analysis of both tickets and potential defenses was terrific. Meanwhile, I’m going to work for you!
I’m happy to share some thoughts:
-Be careful using the word “about” as it leaves wiggle room for the judge. The fire hydrant is either 56 feet from the corner because you can offer proof of the distance, or it’s only an estimate.
-I would offer proof of the length of my car
-On ticket #2, be careful assuming that a judge will agree with your reasoning that a driver would not “totally block the fire hydrant” because they do. Further, the fact that a warrior or cop didn’t issue a ticket for blocking a driveway will not be given much weight. But, it may give weight to your defense that showing that the place of occurrence was misdescribed.
I like your defense that the place of occurrence was misdescribed because the East doesn’t exist (I would offer proof of the East/West axis).
Further, I like your actual measurement with timestamp photo and tape measure.
I offer all winning defenses and try to frame them as misdescribed, omitted, or illegible required elements. For example, the place of occurrence was misdescribed because:
-The more winning defenses you offer, the more time a judge has to spend to refute them. However, many judges omit to refute a defense, usually dues to lack of time, which is a winner on appeal.
-When a judge sees how carelessly tickets are prepared, they are more inclined to dismiss them.
Great job.
Good luck fighting the good fights, Alex.
Regards,
Larry