Last Updated on September 27, 2021 by Lawrence Berezin
Parking rules and camera violations can change
Parking rule ambush. Joe returned home after working in the lab late one night when his eyes beheld an eerie sight. Suddenly to Joe’s surprise, his regular on-street parking space was vacant. *
Therefore, Joe parked locked his car, and walked home. But, alas, Joe did not glance at the parking sign that regulated his parking space for the past five years. What’s the old proverb? “Read the parking signs in front and to the rear of your chariot before you leave your parking space.”
Unfortunately for Joe, the Evil Empire installed a new sign with a different parking rule earlier that day. It prohibited standing from midnight – 7 am. Did that rule change cost Joe $115?
Maybe not because there is a law that offers a 5-day grace period for drivers who were ambushed by installing a new parking sign. However, Joe must prove that the new sign was installed within the 5-day grace period.
Check out some more rule changes you may not know about.
Bus lane camera parking rules violation fine increases incrementally
Joe also lacks luck with bus lane violations. For example, he habitually forgets to make the first right turn after entering during the hours a bus lane is active.
Joe thinks, “What the heck. I may be a chronic offender, but at least the fine is only $50.” Regrettably, Joe didn’t keep up with the bus lane camera rule change. Here’s the newish bus lane camera fine rule;
§ 39-18 Bus Lane Restriction Program.
(a) Liability. The liability of an owner according to § 1111-c of the vehicle and traffic law shall be $50.00 for a first offense within a twelve-month period, $100.00 for a second offense within a twelve-month period, $150.00 for a third offense within a twelve-month period, $200.00 for a fourth offense within a twelve-month period, and $250.00 for each subsequent offense within a twelve-month period. For this subdivision, the twelve-month period is defined as the twelve months going backward from the date of the most recent offense.
(e) Effective dates. This section will remain in effect for as long as § 1111-c of the vehicle and traffic law will remain in effect. (Amended City Record 7/1/2017, eff. 7/1/2019; Amended City Record 9/18/2019, eff. 10/18/2019)
Click on the link to read the full law
Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program
Here’s the legislative intent behind the new program
Declaration of legislative intent and findings.
DOT Analysis
The council notes that in a recent analysis by the New York city transportation department, vehicles with the most school speed camera violations per year or the reddest light camera violations per year were more likely to be involved in injury crashes than vehicles with few or no violations.
The council believes that vehicles involved in multiple red light cameras and school speed camera violations would be less dangerous if their registered owners were educated regarding the dangers of exceeding speed limits and failing to comply with traffic signals.
Conclusion
The council, therefore, finds it necessary and appropriate to establish a program to require such education for the registered owners of such vehicles to the extent practicable.
Don’t forget about the new street cleaning parking rules
The DOT has generated warm and fuzzy feelings from families that enjoy the new reduced number of street cleaning days. Is this happening in your neighborhood?
Here’s a summary of the new street cleaning rule.
Red Light Camera facts
Regardless of who was driving, the owner of the car is responsible for the ticket. 
Red light camera tickets don’t result in any points on your driving record.
The Department of Transportation reviews the images from the cameras.
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Possible defenses to camera violations
Yes. Your evidence must show that you did not travel in the bus lane for more than 200 feet. Or, the evidence against you does not establish that you were in the bus lane for more than 200 feet.
Yes, if your evidence shows that some condition on the roadway prevented you from making an immediate right turn—for example, it was not safe or legal to do so.
Yes.
-The motorist is about to enter a driveway or make a right turn at the nearest intersection.
-You must make the turn within 200 feet of entering the bus lane.-
-The motorist temporarily stops to expeditiously pick up or drop off a passenger at the curbside.
-The motorist is attempting to access a parking spot next to the bus lane.
Commentary
Cassandra Clare, Lady Midnight, had it right when she said, “Lex malla, lex nulla.” But I don’t think she ever parked curbside in New York City.
Be safe!
* Monster Mash.” One of the all-time super songs!
Learn how to double park without getting an evil ticket
Don’t be the driver in the photo. Learn how to beat an unjust double parking ticket.
Double Parking Guide
Don’t be the driver in the photo. Learn how to beat an unjust double parking ticket.
Happy to hear that you recovered from your surgery. Best of health and recovery. We appreciate your sharing of NYC Parking Tickets Evil Empire.
Hi Timmy,
That is so kind of you to say! Your thoughts and well wishes mean a lot to me.
Be safe.
Regards,
Larry
I received a ticket for traveling in a bus lane. When I reviewed the photo that the camera took, I noticed that the photo was of my car in the INTERSECTION of 14th Street in Manhattan, not a bus lane. Also, the video was so dark, you could not see any lane markers to tell which lane that I was in. Finally, the video had no way of measuring the distance that I was traveling (200 feet or 2000 feet), the dark video footage simply showed that I passed through the intersection. It was impossible to see my license plate on the video, or really even tell which vehicle was mine. I arranged a hearing in the Bronx financial center. When I arrived, the judge looked at my video and asked me to make a statement. I said two things, 1) the photo didn’t show that my car was in a bus lane but in an intersection, and 2) the video was so dark and bad, it did not establish that I was in a bus lane at all, or that I traveled 200 feet. The judge replied that she too had some issues with the video and dismissed the case.
Hi Christian,
Wow! That is a wonderful story. Congratulations.
Meanwhile, thanks so much for sharing. You are an inspiration to all our friends who have suffered an unjust bus lane ticket in silence.
Be safe.
Regards,
Larry