Last Updated on December 24, 2017 by Lawrence Berezin
Will this action finally end pedestrian ramp scam parking tickets?
The DOT will pave over Mid-block pedestrian ramps.
The Department of Transportation plans to pave over the mid-block sidewalk ramps that have cost drivers millions of dollars in summonses — even though it’s legal to park beside the ramps, officials said Friday. ‘They are being removed as part of DOT’s systematic pedestrian-ramp upgrades in conjunction with repaving and other work,” said a DOT spokesperson.’ ”
For those of you that have lived under a rock next to the GEICO cave man, the NYPD finally admitted that it systematically issued a bazillion scam tickets for parking in front of legal, mid-block pedestrian ramps. Professor Wellington, who writes the wonderful blog IQuantNYC, estimated the illegal parking fines totaled millions of dollars per year.
A look back to the future
Parking in front of all pedestrian ramps was prohibited until the NYC Council voted to change the law in December 2008. The new law permitted parking in front of certain pedestrian ramps at ‘T’ intersections. But, the DOT failed to publish this change in the rule until Larry (that’s me) alerted the DOT to this omission. The new rule was published by the DOT within 24 hours.
Unfortunately, the practice of issuing scam tickets for parking in front of legal pedestrian ramps continued. In other words, many rogue warriors still issued these scam tickets.
Since December 2009, Larry published a number of blog posts alerting the driving public about the scam and offering advice about how to beat this illegal ticket.
On May 11, 2016, Professor Wellington published a shocking claim supported by data from the NYC Open Data website charging the NYPD with systematically issuing scam pedestrian ramp tickets for parking in front of legal, mid-block pedestrian ramps. As a result of Professor Wellington’s proof, the NYPD admitted their bad behavior.
Subsequently, Mayor de Blasio’s office confirmed that the city will give the money back to anyone who paid those tickets.
The mayor has asked the agencies to make sure anyone affected by this mistake is reimbursed quickly,” said City Hall spokeswoman Monica Klein.
Which brings us back to doe and the DOT’s plan to pave over these legal ramps.

The New York City Traffic rules allow parking at some “T” intersections—those without traffic signals, all-way stop signs or crosswalk markings—even if there is a curb cut at that place.
“Sheepshead Bites” published a wonderful article about how to claim your refund
Here is a step-by-step guide:
- The Department of Finance has said that they will check wrongfully issued pedestrian ramp tickets going back more than one year using the form found here.
- After review, the DOT will issue a refund if it is discovered that the driver paid a wrongful ticket
- Drivers must type “Pedestrian Ramp Ticket Issue” in the subject heading and they must have either the relevant summons number or their license plate number to give so the DOF can accurately search for the ticket in their system.
- If drivers received this type of ticket recently and have yet to dispute it, they are encouraged to dispute the ticket using for form found here.
Commentary
Is this the final curtain for the pedestrian ramp scam parking tickets? We shall see.
Thanks Larry…
My pleasure, L.
Thanks for so thoroughly covering this issue over the years! I was ticketed and towed in September 2013 for blocking a pedestrian ramp (at 234 Willoughby Ave) and as I appealed it, your site was a great resource.
Unfortunately, that appeal was denied.
I was thrilled to see articles from yourself and others announcing that the NYPD had acknowledged their error and that the DOF would be issuing refunds. Fort Greene Focus even called out the 234 Willoughby Ave spot as being a a hot spot for the illegal tickets with 105 instances.
For 7 months now I have been fighting for this refund. There seems to only be one man at the DOF who is familiar with this new information, and when he bothers to respond, it’s only to deny me using one inapplicable excuse after another.
I can’t help but wonder if their promise to refund these tickets is one they had no intention of following through on at all. Do you know of anyone who has successfully received a refund for this? Alternatively, have you heard of anyone else having an experience similar to mine?
Thanks again for your thorough content – it certainly makes navigating the wild west of New York driving easier!
Hi S,
That is totally despicable behavior by the Evil Empire. First, they take your money illegally. Second, they promise to give it back. Third, they make you jump through hoops and still don’t issue a refund. Absurd.
I don’t know who is in charge of refunds. No one has shared any refund stories with me.
Here are some steps that I would take:
-Contact one of the networks that have a reporter that helps consumers (Like a Channel 7 On Your Side kind of feature)
-Contact Mayor DiBlasio’s office to ascertain the status of the refunds and share your story
-Contact your councilperson
-Contact your Congressman
Let me know if any of these steps help. Please keep me informed of your progress.
Sorry about this sad state of affairs, S.
Regards,
Larry
Hello Larry. I recently received 2 tickets within 12 hours for “blocking a pedestrian ramp.” There is a “curb cut with that red grit thing on it.” The block is a large T. I was parked as if when you turn in from the top of the T. There are no lines or signals on that corner as it is the entrance to a culdesack. Should i fight these tickets?
Hi, Stan,
Good afternoon.
It sounds like you parked in front of a legal pedestrian ramp. If so, I would certainly fight the two evil tickets
Here’s an example of legal pedestrian ramps at a ‘T’ intersection.
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry