How long can I park when the meter is broken?
I am frequently asked the following question about parking in a space controlled by a broken NYC parking meter:
I am happy to report that Mayor Bloomberg signed a bill last year that took effect on March 1, 2009, permitting you to park at a broken NYC parking meter for as long as you would normally be able to park if the meter were working. This is a departure from the “old NYC parking meter law,” which only allowed parking at a broken meter for one hour
What should I do when I learn the meter is broken?
File a report with 311. The DOT field inspectors will make the necessary repairs, and the information will be entered into the DOT computerized system
What should I do if I still get an NYC parking ticket?
- Plead NOT GUILTY
- Check “Broken Meter” in the third box at the bottom of the back of the ticket. This is an administrative claim, not a request for a hearing
- Send the ticket, by certified mail, return receipt requested to:
NYC Department of Finance
Meter Unit
P.O. Box 29021
Cadman Plaza Station
Brooklyn, NY 11202-9021
What should I do if my parking meter claim is denied?
If your meter claim is valid, the ticket will be dismissed. If your claim is denied, you can still request a hearing on the ticket.
Commentary
I urge you never, ever park at a broken meter because it is simply too difficult to comply with the procedure for parking at a broken meter. Here’s what 311 has to say about the process:
“When a Muni-Meter is out of service, you should make a payment and obtain a receipt from the other parking meter located on the block or on the next block. If the other meters are not working, make sure to document the date, time, and meter numbers, should you need to dispute a parking ticket. In a parking field, you should purchase a parking receipt from the nearest Muni-Meter to the broken one.”
If all Muni-Meters on the block or the next block, or in a parking field, are broken or missing, you can park for the maximum amount of time posted for that metered space.
DOT will inspect the damaged or defective meter and make repairs if necessary.
Lawrence Berezin
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