Last Updated on July 24, 2021 by Lawrence Berezin
Parking Rules
The prodigious number of old parking rules, new parking rules, and revised parking rules never ceases to amaze me.
For example, how many of you remember the ubiquitous “No standing except trucks loading and unloading except Sunday” rule displayed on a red parking sign? Well, I do.
Above all, It was a monument to the baffling “double except” parking prolixity.
Meanwhile, the Evil Empire replaced the old, red sign illustrated above with a new white sign, showing a truck icon on the left corner, and displaying three little words, “Truck Loading Only.”
The new white sign is sandwiched in the middle of two other signs on the gotcha pole to the left.
Was the new sign an ambush, too?
The parking rule that allows the transfer of Parking Time
Here’s the parking rule
Section 4-08(h)(4). Transfer of parking time.
A person who purchases parking time, via a payment receipt, at an on-street or off-street parking space controlled by a parking meter may, during the start and end time denoted on such payment receipt, park at:
(i) such on-street or off-street parking space;
(ii) at any parking space regulated by a parking meter within the same parking area; or
(iii) in another area regulated by a parking meter where the parking meter rate is the same
as for or less than the rate at the location where the parking time was purchased.
This provision shall not apply when parking time is purchased via an authorized electronic
communication device.
In other words, you can’t park for one-half the time allotted on the receipt and come back a couple of days later to park for the second half. Or, if you buy an hour for $1.25 and park for only one-half hour, you can’t park for one-half hour in a space where the rate is $2.50.
Mirror Mirror on the wall is my chariot a commercial vehicle?
I can’t tell you how many questions I get from wonderful drivers wondering why they got a parking ticket for an “unaltered vehicle.” Here’s the parking rule:
(i) For purposes of parking, standing, and stopping rules, a vehicle will not be deemed a
commercial vehicle or a truck unless:
(A) it bears commercial plates; and
(B) it is permanently altered by having all seats and seat fittings, except the front
seats, removed to facilitate the transportation of property, except that for vehicles
designed with a passenger cab and a cargo area separated by a partition, the
seating capacity within the cab will not be considered in determining whether the vehicle is properly altered; and
(C) it displays the registrant’s name and addresses permanently affixed in characters
at least three inches high on both sides of the vehicle, with such display being in a
color contrasting with that of the vehicle and placed approximately midway vertically
on doors or side panels.
(ii) For the purposes of rules other than parking, stopping, and standing rules, a vehicle
designed, maintained, or used primarily for the transportation of property, or for the
provision of commercial services and bearing commercial plates will be deemed a
commercial vehicle.
(iii) Vehicles bearing commercial or equivalent registration plates from other states or
countries will not be deemed trucks or commercial vehicles unless they are permanently
altered and marked as required in (i)(B) and (C) of this definition, above.
Larry’s comment: This was a killer subpart for the poor guy who loaded his van bearing commercial plates in Kalamazoo Michigan. And 11.2 hours later parked the van in Queens NY, only to get a $115 parking ticket because his van was not altered.
Don’t be like our Michigan friend who didn’t read the rule. He assumed that all he had to do was show up in Queens with commercial plates. He knew nothing about a requirement to permanently alter his out-of-state commercial vehicle to comply with the NYC parking rules.
Parking rule definitions
Have you taken some of your valuable time to read the definitions section of the rules, 4-01? Ideally, we should all learn the definitions of words and phrases found in 4-08. But, I recommend having at least a passing knowledge of the keywords contained in the multitudinous costly requirements meted out by the Evil Empire for the privilege of parking in NYC.
Here’s a list of Words and Phrases defined in 4-01 :
- Access-A-Ride (see below)
- Bicycle
- Bicycle sharing system
- Bus
- (i) Charter bus
- (ii) School bus
- (iii) Sight-seeing bus
- (iv) Shuttle bus
- (v) Intercity bus
- Chartered Party
- Commercial vehicle
- Commissioner
- Commuter van (see below)
- Crosswalk
- Cruising
- Dedicated use sign
- Department
- Designated Activities
- Designated Activity Zone
- Driveway (see below)
- D/S decals
- Electric vehicle
- Electric vehicle charging
- Electric vehicle charging station
- Electronic communication device
- Emergency vehicle (authorized)
- Expressive Matter
- For-hire vehicle (see below)
- High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV)
- Holidays
- Horse-drawn cab
- Impounded Vehicle
- Law enforcement officer
- Limited use vehicle
- Marginal street
- Motor vehicle
- Official time standard
- Parking
- Parking meter
- Passenger car
- Pedal-assist bicycle
- Pedestrian Countdown Display
- Pedestrian Flow Zone
- Pedestrian Plaza
- Pedestrian Plaza Partner (see below)
- Pedicab
- Person
- Public Highway
- Public Transportation
- Service vehicle
- Sidewalk
- Standing
- Stopping
- Taxi
- Transitway
- Truck
- Vehicle
- Waterfront property
- Wharf property
| Access-a-Ride. An “Access-A-Ride vehicle” means a vehicle authorized by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority New York City Transit to provide only the Access-A-Ride service. Such vehicles much bear a license plate with the New York Department of Motor Vehicles designation of “New York City Transit Authority”, and must also have an authorized and clearly visible Access-A-Ride logo on its backside, not smaller than six inches by six inches in size. | |
| Commuter Van. The term “commuter van” means a van which: (i) is used as part of a commuter van service as defined in section 19-502(q) of the NYC Administrative Code; (ii) has a seating capacity of at least nine passengers but not more than twenty passengers or such greater capacity as the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission may establish by rule; (iii) carries passengers for hire in the City; (iv) is duly licensed as a commuter van by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission; and (v) is not permitted to accept hails from prospective passengers in the street. | |
| Driveway. “Driveway” means every entrance or exit authorized pursuant to applicable law and used by vehicular traffic to or from lands or buildings abutting a roadway | |
| For-hire vehicle. The term “for-hire vehicle” means a motor vehicle, licensed by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, for hire in the City, used for the carriage of passengers by prearrangement only and designed to carry fewer than nine passengers, including but not limited to livery vehicles, and excepting taxis or wheelchair accessible vans. | |
| Pedestrian Plaza Partner. The term “pedestrian plaza partner” means an organization selected by the Department to assist with functions related to pedestrian plazas pursuant to a non-exclusive agreement with the Department, which may include, but is not limited to, a maintenance agreement or concession agreement. |
Here are some of my favorite parking rules
The Evil Empire created some diabolical rules that will ambush us and try to take our hard-earned dough, especially during a January snowstorm.
Parking Sign Placement, 4-08(a)(1)(i)
For purposes of this §4-08, one authorized regulatory sign anywhere on a block, which is the area of sidewalk between one intersection and the next, shall be sufficient notice of the restriction(s) in effect on that block.
Larry’s comment: We are expected to walk up and down a football field length city block to ensure there wasn’t a parking sign at the opposite end of the block that regulates our parking space and prohibits parking. However, if you want to conserve some time, energy and keep your clothes dry, all you have to do is read the sign in front of your chariot and to the rear of your chariot. If the rule prohibits parking and the arrow points to your parking space, skedaddle immediately before you get a costly invitation to the Evil Empires fundraising ball.
If not, it is safe to park. Remember, a parking sign only regulates the curb space from the sign in the direction of the arrow(s) to the next parking sign or the end of the block.
Paper or other temporary signs, 4-08(a)(6)
Any paper or other temporary signs posted by authorized agencies shall supersede all existing posted rules for the days and times specified.
Larry’s comment: Rock, paper, scissor rules don’t apply. If you see a paper sign tied to a tree telling you not to park, it may be an ambush. Don’t park. Don’t forget that a paper sign must still comply with the parking rules. It can’t be signed by “Epstein’s Mother.”
Parking at broken or missing parking meters.
(i) Where parking is controlled by a parking meter and such parking meter is broken or missing, the person seeking to purchase a parking receipt shall use a functional parking meter in the same parking field or on the same side of the block, to purchase a parking receipt in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subdivision.
(ii) If all parking meters in a parking field or on a block are missing or broken, a person shall be allowed to park in the parking field or on the block up to the maximum amount of time otherwise lawfully permitted by such parking meters in the controlled parking field or block.
Larry’s comment: Don’t do it! It’s an ambush. You will get a parking ticket if you stand or park at a broken meter. How are you going to prove the meter was broken. and there were no working meters on the same side of the street or in the parking field? Fuggedaboutit!
Commentary
It may feel like an overwhelming task to learn the parking rules, laws, and customs governing NYC roadways. It’s not as tough as you think.
Start by reading the definitions found in Section 4-01 of the Rules of NYC. Next, read Section 4-08 of the Rules of NYC. Don’t try to memorize ’em or learn each rule. Just get a flavor for what activities and behaviors the Evil Empire is trying to control.
For instance, what activity does the rule allow you to conduct in a no-standing zone? You can drop off or pick up passengers from the curb, but not their stuff. But, no waiting allowed. Ergo, try your best not to wait for Aunt Tilly to walk across the street and enter her building. Or unload your groceries in a no-standing zone.
Or, what about a bus stop. How long is an NYC bus stop? Can you stop, drop, and go in a bus stop zone? In other words, I wouldn’t recommend it because you’ll get a ticket, and it is challenging to beat—a bus stop ticket.
Wait nearby in a legal parking space and wait for a cell phone call from the person you want to pick up. If possible, ask her to walk outside the bus stop area and pick her up in a safe place.
Be creative. Get familiar with the rules.
Good to see you back in action, Sir. Can’t keep a good man down !!
Stay well, and stay safe.
Hi Alok,
Thanks so much for the kind encouragement.
It means a lot to me.
Sincerely,
Larry