Last Updated on March 25, 2020 by Lawrence Berezin
A holiday from a pedestrian ramp parking ticket
One small step for man, one giant leap for the NYC driving public. There was common sense change in the pedestrian ramp parking rule that went into effect on December 26, 2008. It is now perfectly legal to park in front of certain curb cuts, as follows:
“Unless a pedestrian ramp is situated at a marked crosswalk, as defined by the Traffic Rules, a summons should not be issued for blocking the ramp. Specifically, a pedestrian ramp located on the long street of a ‘T’ intersection may be blocked by parked vehicles, unless the crosswalk is marked, or there is a traffic sign or signal controlling all opposing traffic.”
Larry’s note: Back to the Future. Free Case Study: How I Beat a Pedestrian Ramp Scam Ticket on Appeal]
Reason for change in the NYC parking rule
There was a conflict in the Traffic Rule contained in “Crosswalk,” 4-01(b). And the Traffic Rule contained in 4-08(f)(7), that made blocking a pedestrian ramp illegal. This inconsistency came to light during a City Council hearing. The NYC police department was issuing summons for parking in front of mid-block pedestrian ramps.
Their legitimacy was questioned due to a 2005 change in the Traffic Rules, redefining “crosswalks.” The 2005 Rule change sought to discourage the use of pedestrian ramps unless they were situated at a “safe” crosswalk. And not in the middle of a block where there were no traffic signs or signals controlling oncoming traffic.
Summary
The driving public may park alongside a pedestrian ramp, located on the long street of a “T” intersection, when:
- There is no marked crosswalk
- There is no traffic sign or signal controlling all opposing traffic
For example, if you see a parking space alongside a pedestrian ramp in the long street of a “T” intersection, make sure that there is no marked crosswalk
Or, if you see a parking space alongside a pedestrian ramp in the long street of a “T” intersection, make sure that there are no traffic signs or traffic signals controlling opposing traffic; such as a stop sign signaling vehicles to stop so that pedestrians may cross the street using the pedestrian ramp.
Remember, notwithstanding the recent amendment, a vehicle can never park alongside a pedestrian ramp located at a 4 corner intersection.
Commentary
Bravo to the NY City Council for listening to its constituents, and voting for a sensible change in the NYC parking rules; and members of the driving public who fought for a change in the NY parking law they knew was right. This is another example of the right way for the NYC government to work.
How about the NYC parking ticket warriors that still issue a summons to the parking public based upon the old law? And, the hearing officials that do not dismiss parking tickets they know are issued illegally? Shame on both of you!
A special thanks go out to a client of New York Parking Ticket LLC for bringing this issue to our attention and helping us educate the driving public about the change in the NYC Traffic Rules. Share your knowledge and information, and we shall continue to publicize the news.
Please comment. Your opinion matters to us.
Hi, I received a parking ticket for pedestrian ramp, and I was not sure if it fits the criteria for the new law. The street was unmarked, in a “T” section, but there was a one- way sign by where I parked.
was I in the wrong? or was it legal?
Thank You!!
Sara,
Good afternoon.
Email the place of occurrence entered on the
parking ticket and I’ll offer my humble opinion.
Regards,
Larry
My car got towed and the ticket said blocking a pedestrian ramp, but the pole where I parked was right in front and the arrows went both ways. There were no crosswalk markers, either. What should I do? Very upset. Feel like it was a big trick from the DMV.
Man, that stinks!
The first step is to prove its a legal pedestrian ramp (mid block, no marked crosswalk, traffic signs or signals regulating traffic).
If you win, you’re entitled to a refund of your tow charges.
Good luck, Jennifer.
Regards,
Larry
Do you think I should plead “Not Guilty” Online or go in person?
Does a stairway from the sidewalk down to the street count as a pedestrian ramp? I got a ticket for this in front of one of the stairways around 620 Park Pl in Brooklyn, just west of Franklin Ave. This is neither a ramp nor a crosswalk, so I don’t understand how this is a violation. Coordinates 40.674385, -73.957591
Dear HMM,
Good morning.
Sorry, but I don’t understand your question.
What does a stairway have to do with a pedestrian ramp?
Regards,
Larry
“What does a stairway have to do with a pedestrian ramp?”
Beats me, but I got a “pedestrian ramp” parking ticket for parking in front of a staircase.
This is nonsense, right?
I contested it and it was dismissed. I submitted pictures of the stairway and the house number and the way my car was parked and they said there is no pedestrian ramp here.
Hmm,
That is terrific news.
Thanks for sharing your victory with us all.
Congratulations, champ.
Regards,
Larry
I just got a ticket for this exact thing! Is Park Pl between Classon and Franklin the only street that has these? I didn’t take a picture of my car at the time, do you think I need to re-park it how it was and take picture or can I just take a picture of the location? Or even use googlemaps street view?
Dear Julie,
I am sad to report (after dedicating 6 years, 7-days-per-week, with two months off for my heart attack) that I will no longer be answering questions on Larry’s Blog. You’ll find a treasure trove of information in the 746 Blog Posts and growing, F.A.Q.’s, and comments.
If you need help, you may wish to check out of service offerings. Here’s a link.
https://newyorkparkingticket.com/passenger-vehicles
Mr. Berezin:
I was found guilty online because the judge determined “Claimed absence of crosswalk markings or yellow highlight is not a valid defense to the violation charged” and my claim that I parked in compliance with the posted signs is not a valid defense”.
This is soooo rotten. The sign on the pole clearly stated that I could park starting from that pole with the arrows going both ways. There was no red sign to say no parking in this spot.
Any advise? Will appeal.
Jennifer,
I really feel bad about the unjust outcome.
The challenge in fighting NYC parking tickets isn’t figuring out whether we’re right.
It’s presenting the proper proof, properly to beat a specific parking violation.
You clearly parked in a legal space. It seems like you were a bit off on the presenting the proper proof part.
Why don’t you email me the judge’s decision and order and let me see if there’s any room for a successful appeal.
Send it to [email protected]
Regards,
Larry
I just received a ticket for parking in a pedestrian ramp at 594 Lincoln Pl Brooklyn, NY. Clearly a T instersection and no signs of any kind saying I cannot park there. Additionally, the ticket that was issued is not the new digital print out but rather the old hand written tickets and where the the issuing officer marked the violation of “67 Pedestrian Ramp (f)(7)” he even hand wrote “of T” next to it. Can I fight this online? I don’t have time to go to court to fight this.
Thank you!
Dear Andrew,
I am sad to report (after dedicating 6 years, 7-days-per-week with two months off for my heart attack) that I will no longer be answering questions on Larry’s Blog. You’ll find a treasure trove of information in the 746 Blog Posts and growing, F.A.Q.’s, and comments.
If you need help, you may wish to check out of service offerings. Here’s a link
https://newyorkparkingticket.com/passenger-vehicles/
Thank you!
I got a parking ticket for parking in front of a pedestrian ramp on 83rd street and riverside, the ramp did not lead to a cross-walk and it was behind a traffic sign, it is a T crossing. I am not so sure if this fits the criteria.
Can someone let me know ?
I attached a google maps street view picture. My car was located similar to the black SUV not completely covering the pedestrian ramp.
Thanks
Dear MNT,
I am sad to report (after dedicating 6 years, 7-days-per-week, with two months off for my heart attack) that I will no longer be answering questions on Larry’s Blog. You’ll find a treasure trove of information in the 746 Blog Posts and growing, F.A.Q.’s, and comments.
If you need help, you may wish to check out of service offerings. Here’s a link
https://newyorkparkingticket.com/passenger-vehicles/
Hi Larry,
Would you mind commenting on two sites: the junction of 119th and Morningside Ave, and 121st and Morningside Ave?
Both places are identical: A T-intersection with no stop signs on the long street (Morningside). There are no marked crosswalks across Morningside and no parking restriction signs on the long side (West) of Morningside.
I have received tickets for parking in front of pedestrian ramps at both sites.
Hi Joshua,
I agree with your excellent assessment of the curb cuts versus pedestrian ramp challenge. In my humble opinion, the curb cuts on Morningside Avenue are legal parking spaces. Good luck.
Regards, Larry
Dear Larry ,
I want to thank you very much. I’ve just won parking ticket dispute. I’ve got parking ticket on 2/17/2017 for parking a vehicle “in a manner which
obstructs a curb area which has been cut down.” After I found on the Web this article I decided to fight. To collect few pictures and Google map with the place of dispute were all my one or two day efforts which worth this feeling of victory over low educated people who sometimes got a small piece of power.
Decision says ” This is an unmarked crosswalk at a T intersection, with no traffic signal or all-way stop sign. Therefore, according to city records this is not a violation. Summons dismissed.”
Thanks again. You are doing a great gob
Igor,
Congratulations. You totally made my day! Thanks so much for sharing your hard-fought victory against unjust parking tickets.
Regards,
Larry
Hi Larry,
I received a ticket this weekend for blocking a pedestrian ramp in a parking spot that I have used for several months without any issues whatsoever.
My vehicle was parked in this location: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.748107,-73.9428483,3a,75y,88.03h,78.48t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sJVTPKPam6mAPvuV-WTgPhg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
The back-end of the vehicle was blocking the second curb cut you can see in that image. I have long assumed that this was a legal spot because there is not a marked crosswalk originating at the curb cut I was blocking (plus the fact that I have never been ticketed in this spot until this weekend).
Here are some additional pictures I took of my vehicle as soon as I saw it had been ticketed: http://imgur.com/a/BPoR2
Am I correct that this is a legal spot? If so, is there anything else I should prepare as evidence in my online hearing?
Hi Steve,
Good morning.
It appears from the photographs that you blocked a curb cut in a 4-corner intersection. If so, I am sorry to say, your parking space is not a legal space.
The pedestrian ramp rule exemption covers a curb cut at a T intersection with no marked crosswalks or traffic control devices.
https://newyorkparkingticket.com/do-you-know-the-difference-between-a-curb-cut-and-a-pedestrian-ramp/
Regards,
Larry
Hi Larry
on Skillman Street going down to Flushing Ave its a T Intersection now on both sides of Flushing Ave is a Water Pump and after the pump on both sides is a curb cut but you have plenty space between the pumps to park
there is a crosswalk on the street painted but its not connected to a curb cut
am i allowed to park there ?
Hi David,
Good afternoon. Great question.
I’m afraid the marked crosswalks at the T intersection of Skillman and Flushing Avenue makes parking in front of the pedestrian ramps illegal.
They will be expensive parking spaces.
Further, it appears from Google Map Street View images that there is a fire hydrant in the area between the marked crosswalks. There doesn’t appear to be enough space to park a chariot without winning a fire hydrant or crosswalk ticket.
Be careful, David.
Regards,
Larry
My friend parked the car west side of Colden Street and 1 feet South of 45th Ave, flushing, Queens, Agent issued the ticket and towed the vehicle, This T type intersection, Where my friend parked the car,no crosswalk mark ,I need your opinion,
Hi Adam,
Good morning.
Sorry for the delay in replying, but I just returned from a visit with my children and granddaughter in Seattle.
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 location.
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
I have small car a nissan versa hacthback. After a raining day and night in nyc I couldn’t find parking so I parked somewhere where the back of my car was touching the pedestrian crosswalk but not the ramp itselt which would had still allow for people to use it. The next morning I found a $115 ticket on my windshield. Can I fight this???
Hi, Tirso,
You may want to take another look at the ticket.
It’s not for parking in front of a pedestrian ramp ($165).
It’s probably for “touching the crosswalk.”
Regards,
Larry
Hi,
I got a ticket today it says “cross walk on top of the highway”, i was parked on Bedford Ave corner Williamsburg St East, where there is no marked lines and no light to cross and no ramp to cross. what do you think am i able to fight this ticket?
here is the link to the location https://www.google.com/maps/place/Williamsburg+St+E+%26+Bedford+Ave,+Brooklyn,+NY+11211/@40.7030505,-73.9598832,3a,75y,269.28h,85.75t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1scuusNmeYkP1kMuFL_UhZ2A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c25bdd5a042c1d:0x49af952de0ded529!8m2!3d40.7030458!4d-73.9598978
Please let me know.
Thanks.
The location where i was parked was where you see the silver minivan making the turn.
Hi, Isaac,
Good afternoon.
I’m sorry to say that your question is beyond the scope of this blog.
Regards,
Larry
Hi Larry,
Do the new parking lines affect the T intersection law?
Example:
https://goo.gl/maps/Nw1obibZsLVLyqd97
Would parking in front of the curb cut here be illegal with the parking lines stopping short of the curb cut?
I see on the NYC gov website it specifically says:
“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 location.”
Thjs intersection has no traffice signals, no all way stop sign and no crosswalk markings for the curb cut on Class on Avenue. Despite the markings on the road would this be a legal spot since the website itself does not mention parking outside the line as illegal?
Hi KM,
Good afternoon.
Great question. But, I’m afraid I don’t have a definitive answer. Here’s the conundrum:
#1 As you correctly pointed out, the pedestrian ramp rule permits parking at the ‘T’ intersections you described
#2 There is a rule that arguably may permit a cop or warrior to give you a ticket for ignoring the roadway parking space marking in the link Here it is:
4-08
(a) General provisions.
(1) Compliance with rules. No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle, whether attended or unattended, other than in accordance with authorized signs, pavement markings, or other traffic control devices, unless necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with law or direction of any law enforcement officer or other person authorized to enforce these rules
If I got a ticket for parking in front of the pedestrian ramp in the link you kindly furnished, I would fight it. I am not aware of any rule that requires drivers to park within street markings. I view the street markings that appear to designate legal parking areas as guidance, not mandates to park within the lines.
In the same vein, there is no rule prohibiting parking between a stop line and crosswalk. Or, designating parking spaces for commercial vehicles in commercial zoning districts (proposed but not passed).
Wonderful question.
Thanks for posting your comment.
Regards,
Larry