Here are some money-saving tips about parking in front of an NYC driveway
One of the most popular batches of questions I get is about parking in front of an NYC driveway. For example:
- I didn’t block the driveway. There was plenty of room to circumnavigate my car
- There wasn’t a visible garage
- I own the property with 3 rental units
- It wasn’t a legal driveway
- and more…
So I thought I would prepare a cheat sheet to help you solve the mystery of the do’s and don’t do’s of parking in front of an NYC driveway
The driveway definition and rule
Definition:
“Every entrance or exit authorized by applicable law and used by vehicular traffic to or from lands or buildings abutting a roadway.”
Rule:
No person shall 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:
(2)Driveways. In front of a public or private driveway, except that it shall be permissible for the owner, lessor or lessee of the lot accessed by a private driveway to park a passenger vehicle registered to him/her at that address in front of such driveway, provided that such lot does not contain more than two dwelling units and further provided that such parking does not violate any other provision of the Vehicle and Traffic Law or local law or rule concerning the parking, stopping or standing of motor vehicles. The prohibition herein shall not apply to driveways that have been rendered unusable due to the presence of a building or other fixed obstruction and, therefore, are not being used as defined in §4-01(b) of these rules.”
[34 RCNY 4-08 (f)(2)]
Some common driveway challenges
–But there was no visible garage. There does not have to be a garage, whether visible or not, to trigger the operation of the driveway rule. Check out the definition and rule. It includes nothing, nada, Rien du tout about a garage
–My chariot did not block the driveway. It doesn’t have to. The rule prohibits parking in front of a driveway not blocking a driveway
–The driveway wasn’t active. You are permitted to park in front of a driveway “…that has been rendered unusable (emphasis added) due to the presence of a building or other fixed obstruction and, therefore, are not being used as defined in §4-01(b) of these rules.”
–I own the property. Congratulations, you’ve made your Mother proud. An owner of property can park in front of her driveway if, (1) There are two or fewer dwelling units and (2) Her car is registered using the property address
–How to report a “blocked” driveway. Here’s the link.
–What if my vehicle has commercial plates? Sorry, Charley. You can’t park in front of your own driveway if your chariot has commercial plate
–Can I give my grandfather permission to park in front of my driveway? Nope. You don’t have the authority to grant permission to violate a rule prohibiting standing a car on a public roadway in front of a driveway.
–How do I know if the driveway curb cut is legal? Check it out and click on this valuable link
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Here’s a great guide to getting rid of inconsiderate people who block your driveway.
Click the pretty button below for your valuable guide.
