Last Updated on September 10, 2021 by Lawrence Berezin
Parking ticket tips that will save you money
Believe it or not, you can find helpful parking ticket tips on the NYC Government website. However, you have to know where to look.
I am going to highlight some of these bundles of wisdom for you to cogitate.
Are you ready to fill up your baskets with valuable tips straight from the “horse’s mouth.?” O.K., here we go.
Parking ticket tips about the parking rules
The Evil Empire’s mission is to enforce its prodigious number of parking restrictions. In other words, to collect outrageous amounts of our money for the city’s moneybox.
Meanwhile, the Evil Empire interprets some of these restrictions on the city government website (under the 311 tab).
The Evil Empire states, “It is illegal to double park passenger vehicles at all times. Commercial vehicles may double park to make quick pick-ups, deliveries, or service calls during posted hours only. More details are in the City’s traffic rules in Chapter 4, Section 4-08, subdivision (f), paragraph (1) of the Rules of the City of New York.”
Larry’s comment: On the other hand, another view supported in writing by the PVB and Larry that the double parking rule is a no-standing zone and, therefore, allows a vehicle to stop temporarily to drop off or pick up people (at curbside) and skedaddle. In other words, straight from the Evil Empire’s mouth! See “Got Tickets? Your Guide to Parking Ticket Hearings” published by the Department of Finance, Adjudication Division, pages 10 and 14.
If you know that your chariot can get into a lot of trouble, “Unless a posted sign says otherwise, you may not leave a vehicle parked in the same spot for more than seven days in a row. This rule includes spots in all types of neighborhoods, including residential areas.
Commercial Vehicles and Standpipes
Commercial Vehicle Street Storage and Overnight Parking
“Unless posted signs say otherwise, commercial vehicles may not be parked on any street for more than 3 hours. Commercial vehicles may not park on a residential street between 9 PM and 5 AM.”
Parking by a Standpipe
Do you know what a Standpipe is? How about whether you are limited to parking more than 15 feet from a standpipe? Here are the answers
‘A standpipe is the two-headed pipe in front of every mid-rise and high-rise building in New York City. It is often red but could be another color. Standpipes are not considered hydrants. You can park in front of a standpipe.”
This is what a standpipe looks like


What can you do about a blocked driveway?
What is more frustrating is to walk out of your home to go to work, pick up your child, or run an errand and find a badly behaved car blocking your driveway. Evil!
Meanwhile, here’s what you are legally allowed to do from the “horse’s mouth.”
Call 911
Call 911 to report a vehicle illegally parked in the actual driveway of private property. This is considered trespassing.
Most likely, the offending vehicle has not plopped itself directly on your driveway. So, you’ll find a link to a form to complete.
Equally important, an explanation of what happens next.
The police may ticket the vehicle. If the vehicle has a ticket and you want it moved, you can call a private towing company or ask the local police precinct to contact “rotation tow.” The owner of the vehicle will have to pay any towing fees.
FIND:
All you need to know about “The Boot”
You’ll find it on this parking tips webpage.
Commentary
It is not often that the Evil Empire earns kudos for helping drivers navigate the bewildering jungle of restrictions and regulations found in NYC. Can you believe that its website can be a resource in our unending battle with parking tickets?
Hi Larry, I am at wit’s end dealing with a traffic ticket and would greatly appreciate some advice. I am a healthcare worker with a COVID permit that is prominently displayed on the dashboard. However, much to my chagrin, traffic agents routinely ignore said permit and ticket me regardless. All tickets thus far have been dismissed upon submission of photos detailing the permit and it’s placement. Save for one. This one judge deems my undated photos to be nonpersuasive as well as the ticket having the permit display field as “N/S” as proof that the permit was not displayed. As we all know, cellphone photos do not superimpose dates, and haven’t for the last 20 years. Traffic agents are also simply not bothered/ignorant when it comes to filling in the “Permit Displayed” field. Any advice for me for the appeal? Thanks so much for your help!
Hi Susana,
Good afternoon.
I feel your pain. I can’t stand when the same thing happens to me!
I’m happy to take a look at your case if you’d like. You can send me your defense, exhibits, and the judge’s bad decision.
([email protected]).
I’ll let you know how I would appeal this injustice.
Regards,
Larry