Last Updated on November 8, 2022 by Lawrence Berezin
NYC parking ticket tips can help you in many ways
NYC parking ticket tips can help you avoid costly parking tickets. For example:
-“You can’t park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant”
They can give you peace of mind. For example,
-“You can stop temporarily in a no-standing zone to drop off or pick up a passenger to or from the curb, and leave the zone immediately.” But you can’t drop off or pick up property only people
They can save you a bunch of time by answering your questions. For example,
-Am I entitled to a refund of my tow charges if I beat the parking ticket? Yes!
Here are 3 wonderful NYC parking ticket tips.
Tip #1: My car was towed
What’s next?
You gotta locate your towed car
-You gotta determine why your chariot was towed.
A vehicle might be towed to either an NYPD or NYC Sheriff/Marshal tow pound for several reasons:
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- You owe more than $350 or more in parking summons judgment debt
- Double-parked car
- Parked on a fire hydrant
- Unpaid parking meter
- Blocking an intersection or tunnel
- Blocking a driveway
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However, a vehicle may be towed by the police department for any parking violation anywhere in the city.
What documents do I need to bring to the DMV?
New York State will not register or renew a vehicle registration if you have 3 or more outstanding tickets and/or camera violations in judgment within an 18-month period. If you have 5 or more outstanding parking tickets in judgment within a 12-month period, your registration will be suspended. You cannot obtain or renew a registration until you resolve the tickets, either by paying them or by having them dismissed at a hearing. If you pay for your tickets at a Business Center you will receive:
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- Satisfaction of Judgment Notice – Provides proof to the DMV that your tickets have been resolved.
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Registration Clearance – Is required for in-person registration or renewal at DMV. If you prefer to pay all of your parking tickets that are in judgment online, you must also renew/register your vehicle online with DMV and you will not need to obtain this form. (Note: If you pay by 6 pm, you will have to wait up to 48 hours to register your vehicle with DMV online. If you pay after 6 pm, it will take up to 72 hours.)
Tip #2: Can a parking sign ever display the wrong language?
Yes.
There are many commercial meter signs that failed to display essential language on the sign. The language displayed on these errant signs was never changed after the commercial meter signs were redesigned. In other words, the powers to be agreed that the commercial meter signs needed to be revised, and agreed on the proper revised language, yet failed to revise the language on a number of the old signs. Yikes!
I noticed this error, raised this argument before the original judges, and usually lost. However, I appealed all the evil verdicts and usually won my appeals. Here’s a sample of one of my successful appeals.
And, here are some more ways to help you win!
APPEAL
The original judge made mistakes of law and fact when reaching her guilty verdict. The verdict should be reversed.
I raised the following defenses at my original hearing:
This parking sign was confusing, misleading, did not prohibit passenger vehicle’s standing, and may have been illegal.
Due to these circumstances, please dismiss this parking ticket. Thank you.
-I hereby certify that my testimony is the truth to the best of my knowledge. I fully understand that if my testimony is willfully false, I am subject to punishment.
-I hereby certify that the photographs and images contained in the exhibits are true and accurate reproductions of the originals as they existed on the date/time this parking ticket was issued
-I hereby certify that the parking sign displayed in the exhibits was the parking sign that regulated the place of occurrence on the date/time this parking ticket was issued and did not contain the essential words, “others no standing.”
Respectfully submitted,”
The original judge found me guilty because:
“Respondent testifies that they did not park in the prohibited zone, and presents photos and maps additional evidence. The respondent’s claim is rejected as according to city records, there is a Comm. Metered zone at this exact location. It is not persuasive that no part of the Respondent’s vehicle was parked in that zone. Summons sustained.”
Argument
The original judge exhibited a bias in favor of the respondent by her failure to:
-Engage in a thoughtful, fair-minded weighing of all the credible evidence
Here’s the commercial meter ticket
The judge misstated my defense when she said, “Respondent testifies that they did not park in the prohibited zone” (italics added).
Quite the contrary, I never denied parking in the “prohibited zone.” My defense was that the parking sign regulating the place of occurrence omitted certain essential language to make the rule understandable, was confusing/misleading or, the sign itself was not a legal sign
Here’s my Exhibit 7 showing the parking sign that regulated the place of occurrence, but omitted the essential language. “others no standing,” that should have been displayed on the parking sign.
This is an image of the redesigned sign displaying the critical language, “others no standing.” I offered this image as Exhibit 9. I grabbed this image from an article about the company that participated in the redesign of the parking signs
This is the redesigned sign pictured in an article about the company that participated in the design of the parking signs
[Source, Co. Design http://www.fastcodesign.com/1671608/pentagram- redesigns-new-york-s-inscrutable-parking-signage]
This is an excerpt from the Co. Design article cited above HTTP:// www.fastcodesign.com/1671608/pentagram-redesigns-new-york-s-inscrutable- parking-signage
Here’s a photograph from a NY Times article comparing the old parking sign with the redesigned parking sign for the rule in question. The redesigned parking sign contains the essential language, “others no standing.”
NYC spent millions of dollars, an enormous amount of time, and the DOT supervised a herculean effort to replace all the old parking signs with the redesigned signs to make parking signs understandable. The DOT approved the language that was supposed to be displayed on the Commercial Parking Zone signs. Under these circumstances, why would the DOT install a parking sign that omitted the approved language?
I assert that the language on the parking sign regulating my parking space was a mistake and didn’t contain the approved language to make the rule understandable.
I presented substantial certified evidence that cannot be characterized as patently incredible in support of all my defenses. (See, Young v City of New York Dept. of Fin. Parking Violations Adjudications 2007 NY Slip Op 51460(U) [16 Misc 3d 1117(A)] Decided on June 13, 2007, Supreme Court, New York County Goodman).
The original judge never considered the defenses I raised. Instead, she misstated my defense and found me guilty based on a misstated defense I never raised.
Please right this wrong and dismiss the parking ticket.
Respectfully submitted,
Appeals Panel Decision: REVERSED. TICKET DISMISSED
Tip #3: Was the metes and bounds description of the place of occurrence correct?
A metes and bounds description of the place of occurrence is entered as follows:
“N/S of Park Avenue_25 feet East of 42 Street in NYC” How do you know whether the description was correct?
I recommend that you always, every time, without fail, make sure the roadways run in the direction described by the Cop or Warrior. Is there a “North Side” of Park Avenue? If not, you win subject to presenting the proper proof, properly.
I use the NYC DOT Parking Regulations Map_metes and bounds version to check. Here’s a link. Insert the information as requested by the app, click, and you should find out whether Park Avenue runs North-South.
Commentary
I hope these three tips help you navigate Parking Ticket Land. Please take advantage of the resources on the website. And never, ever pay an NYC parking ticket, “No Questions Asked.”
I want to write an appeal for a “Reg Sticker Expired” ticket which the judge ruled guilty. My online defense was that the sticker number written on the ticket is incorrect.
In the short paragraph the judge wrote the following two items:
“Summons is held to be written properly containing a correct description of the vehicle and valid cited address. Respondent’s claim does not establish a valid legal defense.”
and “No documentation is submitted.”
On the ticket the exp date was written in the ‘Exp. Date’ box above. The Complainant’s comments section did not have the exp date but it did have a sticker number (incorrect). I (apparently wrongly) assumed that the judge would have access to registration information such as the correct sticker number.
I’d like two address both issues:
1. The judge is mistaken that my claim does not establish a valid legal defense.
2. If the judge felt that more evidence was necessary she should have requested more documentation and not simply ruled guilty.
In another article you wrote that :
• The date your inspection sticker expired must be entered in the comment section of the parking ticket
• The registration sticker number must be entered in the comment section of the parking ticket for an expired registration sticker violation
Where is this written? Is there any section of law I can quote for the appeals panel to show that the judge is mistaken?
Hi, Gabe,
Good morning.
Great comment with excellent questions.
I’m afraid I don’t have a rule or law to cite about the requirement that the registration expiration date is required to be entered in the comment section of a parking ticket when the violation alleged is an expired registration. I learned this from my partner who was fighting tickets for 25 years. He learned it from his original boss, who was parking ticket fighter #1. I’ve fought tickets where the registration sticker number was omitted and the tickets were always dismissed.
But, you have a different beast to slay. Your defense wasn’t that the registration sticker number was omitted. Your excellent defense was that the sticker number was incorrect (misdescribed). In essence, a he said_she said argument, unless you submit proof of the registration sticker number. Needless to say, a judge is going to side with the Warrior or Cop 95% of the time.
I don’t know if there are any secret guidelines in the PVB that state when a judge must adjourn a hearing. Or, whether it is at the discretion of the judge. So, one of a few things happened here:
-Your missing piece of evidence didn’t fall within the guidelines
-The judge didn’t exercise her discretion to give you a fair chance to offer the supporting evidence
-The judge legitimately didn’t believe that an incorrect registration sticker number was a valid defense
-The judge was hoping you’d go away after she unjustly found you guilty
In any event, I would absolutely appeal this decision. I would minimally raise the defenses you eloquently stated in your comment.
You may want to argue, as you stated in your comment, that the judge should have granted an adjournment and allowed you to present evidence of the correct sticker number (i.e. a photo of the sticker). And then, as a proffer of proof, submit the photo of the registration sticker to demonstrate to the appeals panel that the sticker would have confirmed your defense).
The appeals panel knows the rule, law, guideline, or custom that required the registration sticker number to be entered on the ticket. You really don’t need to cite the rule, etc.
Gabe, for future reference: A lot of people make the same mistaken assumption you made about the judge having access to the information. A judge is not your assistance, nor will she do your work for you and look up stuff and add it to your proofs. If it’s a material element of your defense, you gotta show it to the judge. Remember, a judge has a NY minute to decide your case and is looking for the quickest way to find you guilty and move on to the next case. Don’t make it easy for ’em.
Excellent job and analysis.
Please let me know the outcome of your appeal.
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
Thanks Ill certainly let you know.
I have another appeal question about a violation “Sidewalk” – that was the full description. Some background: The street is a thin two-way street that used to be a one-way. Cars constantly park with their right wheels on the curb because it is common for mirrors to be knocked into when it’s busy. I gave a full explanation online and uploaded 36 pictures with the following points mentioned in the letter.
a. The street is narrow; the letter included many picture of multiple cars parked with wheels on the curb – both nighttime and daytime photos. Also a google maps picture was provided showing that the next block on the same street is a one way. (There was more text in the letter…)
b. My car was also parked the same way and pictures were provided. (Pictures were also provided showing vehicles driving over the middle yellow lines due to the narrowness of the street. )
(c. and d. Im giving verbatim)
c. It is legal to park if it is not where pedestrians walk and this includes on the curb. Traffic rule 4-01(b) says that a sidewalk is the portion of the street between the curb lines and adjacent property lines intended for the use of pedestrians.
In other places the city defines the curb as part of the roadway as opposed to the sidewalk see https://www1.nyc.gov/nyc-resources/service/1473/curb-complaint
In either case, it is clear that according to 4-01(b) the sidewalk for the purposes of parking, does not include the curb and is only where pedestrians walk so as not to interfere with pedestrians.
It is therefore legal to unobtrusively park in this manner. In fact, on certain narrow streets it’s the only safe way to park – especially for a wide vehicle.
d. Given c. above, the description of the offense in not descriptive. The description on the ticket is just the word “Sidewalk.” This is not a clear description it does not say which part of the vehicle was on the sidewalk and it does not describe where on the sidewalk. Unfortunately, this word alone includes legal instances such as in this case where vehicles commonly park with two wheels on the curb – out of the way of pedestrians and due to the narrow street. There is no way from the description to determine whether or not the car was legally parked. That alone, it would seem, would be a basis for dismissal.
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The Judge’s response is to first quote 4-01(b) ending in “…when it is not clear…between the building line and the curb.”
Then he finishes by saying:
“Respondent states that they parked their vehicle partially on the sidewalk because the street is narrow. Respondent submits photos of other vehicles partially parked on the sidewalk. Even if true, this is not a valid legal defense. Summons Sustained.”
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I’m thinking to file an appeal since the judge ignored both points c. and d. and just repeated that I parked on the sidewalk without even using the word ‘curb’ which was a main point of the defense. These are valid legal questions and the judge did not question the facts.
Do you think an appeal is in order?
A few technical questions:
1. The appeals application allows numerous violations to be listed on the same application. Should/could I put more than one appeal in the same envelope and same application or is it better to split them?
2. Should I ask for an ‘in person’ appeal for the sidewalk violation or is mail just as good?
3. The 36 photos were uploaded and referred to by photo # in the original letter. The files were named 1.jpg, 2.jpg … I assume that the judge also sees the file names when he sees the picture but I can’t be sure – would you know? (If not it would be harder but not impossible for him to match it with the letter.)
4. I actually ordered the pictures printed on photo paper to send with the appeal. Was that overkill? Could I have just printed them on regular paper?
Thanks for you quick responses!
Hi, Gabe,
Good morning.
I agree with everything you said in your comment. I would absolutely appeal.
Word of Warning: I had the exact same case and lost the original hearing and the appeal.
The Evil Empire was wrong but the judge and appeals panel decided that they just weren’t going to let me win a sidewalk case by raising a curb defense.
The first thing I attack on appeal is the original judge’s opinion. It usually misstates the law or facts or is a net opinion.
In your appeal, it is obvious that the judge ignored your defense that a curb is part of the roadway NOT the sidewalk.
The judge kept repeating the mistake of fact and law and based his opinion on a mistake of fact and law. That type of opinion cannot support a guilty finding.
The mistake of law the judge made was not recognizing the curb was part of the roadway, not the sidewalk. “Respondent states that they parked their vehicle partially on the sidewalk because the street is narrow. Respondent submits photos of other vehicles partially parked on the sidewalk. Even if true, this is not a valid legal defense. Summons Sustained.” In fact, the judge totally misstated the fact that I partially parked on the sidewalk. The correct fact was that I partially parked on the curb, not sidewalk because the curb is part of the roadway.
The judge missed the point entirely when he denied parking with tires on the curb is not a legal defense to a sidewalk violation. Of course, it is because otherwise, the violation would have to be named, parking on the roadway.
This rogue judge played games and hopefully, the appeals panel will right the wrong and dismiss the case. Remember, the judge didn’t deny the facts. Except, he called the curb “a sidewalk.” That mistake of law and fact cannot support a decision of guilty.
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
PS…I don’t know the answers to your technical questions. Whether or not to appear in person is really a personal preference. If you have the time and money for parking and are a confident public speaker, go in. If not, fight it by mail (I do).
Hey how are you. I was curious if you had any knowledge on how often you can be issued the same exact Parking Ticket. I was issued a no standing ticket at 11:47pm and then got the exact same ticket less then one hour later at around 12:20am. I paid the first ticket and pleaded not guilty to the second one. I told them that the first ticket was visible and left on the windshield and less then an hour later I get the same ticket. I don’t feel it’s fair to get the same ticket within that time span. The extortionist judge said I’m guilty and have to pay it. Do you know of any time constraints where they can’t site you for the same ticket twice? Thanks for your help
Hi, Frank,
Good morning.
Oh, man, what a shame!
It is a time-honored custom at the Evil Empire to dismiss the second ticket if issued within 3-hours of the first ticket. You gotta pay the second ticket before requesting a dismissal.
(The second ticket is the one to go because it was issued way too soon).
You did the honorable thing by paying for one of the two tickets. It appears you selected the “wrong” ticket to pay. Under these circumstances, I think the judge should have absolutely dismissed the first ticket, anyway.
Hard to believe.
If it were me, I would appeal and hope the appeals panel is more reasonable than the judge. Your comment should be your argument.
Regards,
Larry