7 Important Things to Ponder About Parking in NYC
Parking in NYC amidst the upcoming sea of changes
Parking in NYC has never been easy. But, it will be more complicated in 2023. For example:
- Congestion pricing is likely to be launched
- More boots to make up for lost pandemic revenue
- Outdoor dining will eliminate more parking spaces
- New rules
- Increased taxi rates
- Temper tantrums
- Will there be fewer auto accidents, deaths, and injuries?
- And more
How will you cope? If you don’t have a plan yet, it may be helpful to ponder the upcoming changes during the holiday season.
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
How will congestion pricing affect parking in NYC?
Firstly, what is NYC congestion pricing?
It could soon be more expensive to drive through Manhattan’s most densely packed streets, as a tolling program that aims to reduce traffic in New York City crossed a major hurdle this month.
NY Times
The plan is the first of its kind in the United States and seeks to discourage cars from squeezing into one of the world’s busiest commercial districts — roughly the southern third of the length of Manhattan — while boosting public transit.
The zone runs from 60th Street to the Battery, but omits the Eastside artery of the F.D.R. Drive and the West Side Highway along the borough’s edges. State lawmakers gave the Metropolitan Transportation Authority permission to develop and run the program in April 2019.
Let’s start with the Central Business District (“CBD”) of NYC
Here is a diagram of the Central Business District Tolling Program area. In other words, this is where congestion pricing will live and breathe and inflict pain on NYC drivers.
MTA Projects, Central Business District Tolling Program.”
MTA Projects: The Latest News About Congestion Pricing
Congestion pricing projections revealed by MTA: What New York City commuters might pay
Boots are made for walking.
Booting for dollars has returned to NYC roadways with a vengeance. Likewise, the Evil Empire and its minions are making up for lost pandemic parking fines.
I despise booting as a weapon to collect overdue parking fines. Meanwhile, don’t get me started on the boot and tow penance for the same parking violation (s). Please, a word to the wise. If you owe any dough from pandemic parking fines, either fight if possible or pay up now if possible. Look into working out a payment plan, if necessary.
Otherwise, you’ll be walking not driving.
Resource: “Sheriff Reboots Car Fine Collections After Costly Pandemic Pause.”
Resource: Here’s what the Evil Empire says about “NYC Booting.”
How about the future of outdoor dining?
Outdoor dining appears to be here to stay. Likewise, say goodbye to a bunch of parking spaces.
Due to the success of the emergency Open Restaurants Program during COVID-19, New York City is working to create a permanent Open Restaurants program. This program will be managed by NYC DOT and allow restaurants to use the sidewalk adjacent and curbside roadway space in front of their businesses for outdoor dining. In order to make this program permanent, the laws that control outdoor dining in non-emergency situations must be changed.
NYC DOT
NYC Permanent Open Restaurants Program Brochure (pdf)
New Rules
There are always a bunch of new laws, rules, and regulations in Parking Ticket Land. However, I am most concerned about the changes in the parking meter laws.
7 Things you need to know about Meter Parking NYC
Please check them out and learn them.
Do you ever take taxis in NYC?
If so, new rules and higher rates were adopted. Without further adieu:
“The Taxi and Limousine Commission is promulgating amendments to the rules that increase the taximeter rate of fare and various surcharges for taxicabs and street hail liveries, create a new LaGuardia Airport surcharge, and increase the Kennedy Airport flat fare.
– The initial unit charge is increased from $2.50 to $3.00.
– The Taxicab Improvement Surcharge and Street Hail Livery Improvement Surcharge are increased from $0.30 to $1.00.
– The additional unit charge is increased from $0.50 to $0.70.
– The rush hour surcharge is increased from $1.00 to $2.50.
– The nighttime surcharge is increased from $0.50 to $1.00.
– The flat taxi fare for trips between Manhattan and Kennedy Airport, and the SHL flat fare for trips from Manhattan to Kennedy Airport, is increased from $52.00 to $70.00.
– The rush hour taxi and SHL flat fare surcharge for Kennedy Airport trips is increased from $4.50 to $5.00.
– A new surcharge of $5.00 is created for all taxi trips to and from LaGuardia Airport, and all SHL trips to LaGuardia Airport hailed outside the Hail Exclusionary Zone.
– The taxi surcharge for all trips to Newark Airport is increased from $17.50 to $20.00.”
Parking space temper tantrums
There is absolutely, positively no excuse for parking space violence. If you get an unjust ticket, fight it. Or, if you run into an out-of-control parking person, suck it up and find another space.
Here’s what can happen
He pulled a gun to get a parking spot; now he’s got a spot in prison.
pix 11
A Queens man, 29, was sentenced Monday to 10 years behind bars after he threatened a driver over a parking spot, District Attorney Melinda Katz said. Jaquan Adams was convicted Sept. 20 of three counts of criminal possession of a weapon and menacing in the second-degree.
“An argument over nothing more than a parking spot escalated into a life-or-death confrontation because the defendant chose to resolve the dispute with an illegal handgun,” Katz said. “He has now been held to full account for his criminal actions.”
Auto accidents, injuries, and fatalities
The primary mission of government is to protect the public. New York’s families deserve and expect safe streets. But today, in New York, approximately 3,000 New Yorkers are seriously injured, and more than 200 are killed each year in traffic crashes. Meanwhile, being struck by a vehicle is the leading cause of injury-related death for children under 14 and the second leading cause for people over 65.
Meanwhile, there is evidence that Vision Zero may be working.
But some solid evidence is now emerging that it is working, or can work.
Bloomberg
A recent chart and report from the International Transport Forum is what gives me hope. In the report, “Monitoring Progress in Urban Road Safety,” the authors compare the decrease in road traffic deaths across 22 major cities that participated in a pledge to reduce traffic deaths. New York City is the only US city included, and one of just four where the city significantly outperformed national-level safety figures.
Commentary
Wow! Lot’s of stuff to ponder during the upcoming holiday season. But you have plenty of time to spend a little time planning for what’s ahead in 2023.
Use your time wisely.
My best wishes for a healthy and happy holiday season.
Regards,
Larry
Related Posts
FREE Download
Did you survive the Black Friday parking ticket frenzy? Are you ready to park safely for the rest of the holiday season? Remember, we have Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve coming up. And, what day is Christmas observed?
I prepared a guide to park safely during the holidays. It’s free. All you have to do is click, enter your first name and email address, and the free guide is yours. Are you ready to save your hard-earned dough?
Larry, the boot only comes if you owe $350 or more.
So, if like me, you owe $175, you’re good so long as you pay any future tickets.
Hi Trent,
I wish your story was the whole story. However, your chariot can be “immobilized” (i.e. “Booted” for one, single, solitary parking violation). Here’s the Rule 4-08(a)(9)
(9) Immobilization and towing of illegally parked vehicles.
(i) Time and manner of immobilization.
Any illegally parked vehicle found parked at any time upon any public highway in the City may, by or under the direction of any person authorized by the Commissioner, be immobilized in such manner as to prevent its operation, and thereafter may be removed to a tow pound as provided in these rules; provided, however, that no such vehicle shall be immobilized by any means other than by
the use of a device or other mechanism which will cause no damage to such vehicle unless such vehicle is moved while such device or mechanism is in place.
(ii) Notice. Notice of immobilization pursuant to this paragraph shall be placed in a conspicuous place on the vehicle. Such notice shall contain:
(A) a warning that any attempt to move the vehicle may result in damage to the vehicle;
and
(B) the time, place, and manner in which the vehicle may be redeemed.
(iii) Immobilization fee. The registrant of an immobilized vehicle that has not yet been removed to a tow pound pursuant to these rules, or any other person authorized by the registrant of such vehicle, may secure the release of the vehicle upon satisfaction of all parking summonses in judgment if any, for which the registrant of the immobilized vehicle is liable and payment of an immobilization fee of $185.00.
(iv) Applicable rules. Where a vehicle has been both immobilized and towed, the owner shall be subject to both the immobilization requirements of this paragraph and all applicable provisions of these rules.
(v) Right to an immediate hearing. The registrant, title holder or operator of any vehicle that has been immobilized shall have the right to an immediate hearing during regular business
hours at the Parking Violations Bureau in relation to the immobilization. Section 4-08 22
(vi) Removal fee. The fee for removal of illegally parked vehicles to a tow pound shall be determined in accordance with the following fee schedule. Said fee shall be payable before
such vehicles are released.
(A) The removal fee for Regular Towing shall be $185.00 and shall apply to any vehicle that has a gross vehicle weight less than 6,500 pounds, that may be towed
through the use of a single tow truck not weighing more than eight tons.
(B) The removal fee for Heavy Duty Towing shall be $370.00 and shall apply to any vehicle that has a gross vehicle weight of 6,500 pounds or greater, and/or requires
either more than one tow truck or a single tow truck which weighs in excess of eight
tons, in order to be towed.
(vii) Storage fee. In addition to the removal fee set forth in subparagraph (vi) of this paragraph (9), there shall be a storage fee of $20.00 for each day such vehicle remains in
the possession of the city, up to and including the day such vehicle is released. Said fee
shall be payable before such vehicle is released.
(viii) Vehicles not removed considered abandoned. Any vehicle which is not removed from city property within 10 days following the mailing of a request to remove it shall be deemed to be an abandoned vehicle pursuant to paragraph (d) of subdivision 1 of §1224 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law and shall be disposed of by the Commissioner pursuant to such
law. Such request shall be sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, to the registered owner of the vehicle, at the address contained on the registration of such
vehicle.
(ix) Release of the vehicle in process of being removed. When a vehicle has been hooked to a tow truck in preparation for removal to a pound but the owner or other person lawfully entitled to possession of such vehicle appears and requests the release of such vehicle before the tow truck is in motion,such vehicle shall be unhooked and released, provided, however, that the person to whom such vehicle is released must execute a binding agreement consenting to pay the vehicle release penalty as set forth in subparagraph (x) of this paragraph (9) within thirty days from the date of such agreement and, in the event of non-payment,to the imposition of additional penalties in accordance with subparagraph (xi) of this paragraph (9);and provided further that such person present a current valid driver’s
license and either registration for the vehicle, title to the vehicle, insurance identification and keys for the vehicle, a rental agreement and keys for the vehicle in case of a rental vehicle,
or company identification and keys for thevehicle in the case of a commercial vehicle.
(x) Vehicle release penalty. The penalty for the release of an illegally parked vehicle under the circumstances permitted by subparagraph (ix) of this paragraph (9) shall be $100.00 for
illegally parked vehicles which meet the criteria contained in subparagraph (vi)(A) of this paragraph (9), and $200.00 for illegally parked vehicles which meet the criteria listed in subparagraph (vi)(B) of this paragraph (9). This fee is in addition to any other monetary fine(s) and penalty(ies) permitted by law for the underlying parking violation(s); provided, however, that in no event shall a vehicle release penalty be imposed if the underlying parking violation or, in the case of multiple parking violations, all underlying parking violations, is (are) dismissed by the Parking Violations Bureau.
(xi) Non-payment of vehicle release penalty. The Parking Violations Bureau may, in accordance with law, prescribe additional penalties for non-payment of the vehicle release penalty set forth in sub-paragraph (x) of this paragraph (9) and enter and enforce default judgments for such vehicle release penalty and additional penalties.
Thanks for sharing your comment, Trent.
Best,
Larry