The Ultimate Guide to Resolving Parking Sign Conflicts in NYC

How to resolve conflicting parking signs that regulate the same parking space

Have you ever knowingly parked in a space that was regulated by two or more conflicting parking signs? For example, what if:

• A street cleaning sign prohibited parking on Tuesdays between 10:30A-1P while another parking sign regulating the same curb space permitted one-hour parking on Tuesdays between 10A-4P? Can you park safely on Tuesdays at noon?
• A parking sign permitted one-hour parking on Monday-Friday, 10A-4P for the curb space regulated by a safety zone? Can you park safely for one hour on Monday at 11A?
• What if a handicap parking sign regulated the curb space in both directions, but a fire hydrant was installed within 10 feet of the handicap parking sign? Can you park safely in the handicap zone with a handicap placard within 5 feet of the fire hydrant?

These are just a few of the parking sign conflicts faced by the NYC driving public.

Street Cleaning Sign versus a one-hour parking sign

Is it safe to park on Tuesdays at noon? if a street cleaning sign prohibited parking on Tuesdays between 10:30A-1P while another sign regulating the same curb space permitted one-hour parking between noon-5P? No!

When one parking sign says yes and another parking sign says no, keep driving. No always trumps yes in Parking Ticket Land.

On the flip side of the coin, can you park anywhere on a block when street cleaning rules are NOT  in effect? For example, if street cleaning rules were in effect on Monday between 10A-11:30A, but another parking sign regulating the same curb space prohibited standing all days/all times, which sign wins?

You guessed it (I hope). The no standing sign wins even when alternate side parking rules are not in effect. The stricter no standing sign rules the parking spaces it regulates in common with the street cleaning sign.

Safety zone versus one-hour parking sign

Roadway markings, such as safety zones, beat parking signs that let parking during certain periods of time. Paint beats metal.

Here’s an example

The parking sign permitted one-hour parking while the safety zone regulating the same curb space prohibited parking all days/all times. Which rule wins? Sadly, the car that parked in the safety zone guessed wrong. Ca-ching.

No trumps yes.

Does a handicap parking sign beat a fire hydrant?

Check out this video (Cleveland, Ohio) and learn the answer…

Commentary

I spoke to a client about a parking ticket he received for parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant. He explained that there was a street cleaning sign nearby that did not prohibit parking on the day/time he parked too close to the hydrant. He thought that since the street cleaning sign didn’t say “no” when he parked, it was o.k. to violate the curb space of the fire hydrant.

Yikes! The parking sign lesson cost $115 for parking too close to a fire hydrant.

I cannot think of one conflict where yes trumps no. I cannot think of one battle where the less restrictive rule wins. Can you? If so, please share your parking gold with all of us.

[Larry’s note: You can park on Tuesdays at 8:30A]