When Can I Park in a School Zone without Receiving a Parking Ticket?

Can I park in a school zone without getting an NYC parking ticket?

Here are the NYC parking rules to know when you park in a school zone:

 However, motorists should be aware that specific schools may be open on holidays and during summer vacations, and parking restrictions would stay in effect. If schools have summer sessions or are open for teacher meetings or similar activities, even if students are not attending, the parking regulations apply on such days. Individuals should contact specific schools to verify that they are in recess. To contact an individual school, call 311 and ask for the “Find a School” service; they will give you the school’s telephone number. For TTY Deaf and hearing-impaired, dial 212-504-4115. If you are calling from outside the five boroughs, dial 212-NEW-YORK (DOT Website)”

Here’s a mistake to avoid

A wonderful client of ours received this email from his children’s teacher. He read it, surmised that school was closed, and parked in a space where parking wasn’t permitted on school days. Did he get a parking ticket?

Sure did! Although the school was closed for students, it was not closed for teachers (they had a workshop on that fateful date).

Remember…Make sure that school was closed AND no activities were going on before you park in a parking space that prohibits parking during school days.

 

Double parking is only permitted in a school zone when a parent or caretaker is called to the school on a “medical emergency.” You may fight a parking ticket for double parking by submitting a statement from school personnel that you or a caretaker was called to the school on a medical emergency,

Here’s a link to an article in “Streetsblog NYC” reacting to a bill introduced by NYC Councilman Joel Rivera that would allow parents to double park in school zones while picking up their children. What’s your reaction to the proposed legislation? (still pending as of April 14, 2014).

Here’s the scoop on double parking in NYC in general.

There are many things that can happen to a parent Parker in a school zone, and most of ’em are bad. I’ve created a school zone tip sheet from the information contained in this blog post. It’s yours for FREE. All you have to do is gently press the school below and the Tip Sheet is yours.