NYC Parking Ticket News that Misses the Bulls-Eye

Last Updated on October 29, 2017 by Lawrence Berezin

NYC parking ticket news misses the mark…sometimes

I frequently check the Internet for news about parking. I love when I stumble upon humorous parking stories, interesting parking ticket stories, or stories that miss the mark. Today I want to share a few stories and images. One is amazing, and the other two are informative, but miss the bulls-eye.

Let’s start with funny amazing.

Is death a defense to a parking meter violation?

This dearly departed lady must have had a super sense of humor while she was living. She left us all with a lifetime of giggles. Here’s why:

The NY Daily News published a parking story…

This iconic newspaper recently published a story that contained some great factoids:

• The city will see a $550 million windfall this year from parking tickets, Crain’s New York reported.
• Of the 10 million issued, between 20% and 30% will go to commercial-delivery companies.
• FedEx racked up $1.8 million in parking violations in the first three months of 2013, for instance, and UPS pays $1 million a quarter for violations.

Here’s a quotation that may miss the bulls-eye…

“If we have to double-park, then, yes, we will. It’s the cost of doing business,” a spokesman for UPS told the news agency. “That’s all about it.”

A business that makes deliveries or service calls in New York City IS permitted to double park anytime night or day, outside of Midtown; if there is no curb space available within 100 feet on both sides of the street (or a loading zone). The “Midtown exception” prohibits double parking for commercial vehicles between 7A-7P daily. Otherwise, a commercial vehicle can double park in Midtown.

I found an interesting quotation from the executive director or Transportation Alternatives criticizing the Stipulated Fine Program (the “SFP” offers a discount on certain enumerated parking violations to commercial companies that complete deliveries or service calls within a one-half hour):

“Preferably, they should be paying the same rate as everybody else, because getting a discount on a parking ticket just exacerbates the problem of congestion,” said Paul Steely White, executive director of Transportation Alternatives.

“They’ll just park there all day long.”

Transportation Alternatives does a terrific job providing information and advocacy for, well, using transportation alternatives to gas guzzling, fume-emitting, motor vehicles that are more environmentally friendly. But, in this instance, Mr. White is being short-sighted.

It is difficult enough for all of us civilians to navigate the mean streets of NYC. It is incredibly stressful and difficult for businesses that make regular deliveries in our fair city to find accessible parking spaces. Food cannot be delivered by train. How about the millions of people who rely on Federal Express or UPS to deliver packages that absolutely, positively most get there overnight?

Further, every parking space that is available to commercial vehicles has a born-again date of 3 hours. After 3 hours, a vehicle will be ticketed and possibly towed. So, a commercial vehicle will not “just park all day.” And, if a UPS or Fed Ex, such as, were occupying parking spaces for more than one-half hour at a time, these companies would not be eligible for the Stipulated Fine Program.

The “discount program” has many benefits for New York City, while relieving some of the costs to businesses (that will be ultimately passed on to you and me):

• NYC can count on a regular, substantial, revenue stream from businesses eligible for the discount program
• Not all parking violations are discounted
• Can you imagine the chaos these huge companies would cause NYC if they contested every parking tickets, or even fought a percentage of tickets? (additional judges, support staff, and infrastructure)

Transportation Alternatives raises important issues and advocates for a community. Alternative Solutions takes a different tact.

PS…That’s my commentary for today.

“Shocking NYC Parking Ticket Blitz: $115 Fines For What Was Legal Minutes Before”

“Drivers Blast Bloomberg, Say Bike-Share Rule Changes A Blatant Money Grab”

This is a headline and sub-headline for a CBS news story. But, don’t forget that there is a solution for this parking pain. If a parking sign is installed or changed, the driving public has a 5 day grace period to fight the parking ticket and win. So, if you park your chariot under one parking sign, and come back and find a different parking sign…Fight the parking ticket, you will win.

They’re back (actually never left). Beware the LEGAL pedestrian ramp that bites you in the wallet. Viva la difference between the legal and illegal pedestrian ramps. FREE Download.