An NYC Parking Ticket for Unaltered Commercial Vehicle
How to avoid an NYC parking ticket for an unaltered commercial vehicle
Joe parked his white pick-up truck with an unladen weight of 6,500 pounds, bearing commercial plates, with the name and address of the registered owner of the vehicle in 4-inch high, light gray lettering, displayed on the left side door of his truck. He found a parking space in a commercial loading/unloading zone, paid the muni-meter, and commenced his delivery.
However, on one of his return trips to his truck, Joe saw a bright, orange, NYC parking ticket peering out from under his windshield wiper. In other words, Joe got parking for an unaltered commercial vehicle on the streets of NYC.
Is this an unjust parking ticket? If so, can Joe beat this NYC parking ticket for an unaltered commercial vehicle?
Joe violated the NYC parking rule prohibiting the parking of unaltered commercial vehicles
I’m sure we were all rooting for Joe, but he violated two essential elements of the confusing unaltered commercial vehicle rule.
Attention: Don’t Park a Commercial Vehicle in NYC until you read this
The lettering must be:
- On both side doors or side panels
- Permanently affixed in a color contrasting with that of the vehicle
Consequently, Joe came so close to appropriately altering his commercial vehicle, but still got a costly NYC parking ticket that he cannot beat (unless he finds an omitted, misdescribed, or illegible required element).
The NYC parking rule
4-08 (k)(1): Parking of unaltered commercial vehicles prohibited.
No person shall stand or park a vehicle with commercial plates in any location unless it has been permanently altered with:
- All seats and rear seat fittings (except the front seats) removed, except
- vehicles designed with a passenger cab and a cargo area separated by a partition, the seating capacity within the cab shall not be considered in determining whether the vehicle is properly altered
- name and address of the owner appearing on the registration certificate
- plainly marked on both side doors or side panels
- lettering and numerals not less than three inches in height
A simple touch-up will fix Joe’s problem.
Commentary
Don’t be like Joe. Likewise, learn the rule for parking your commercial pick-up truck on the streets of New York City and comply with every element.
Close only wins in horseshoes. However, in Parking Ticket Land, close will cost you and your incorrectly altered pick-up truck $115.
if corrected can you submit evidence of corrections made and beat ticket?
Elli,
Good morning.
Sadly, there are no “do-overs” in Parking Ticket Land
(Except for broken equipment where if you repair within 24-hours you get a mulligan).
Regards,
Larry
My vehicle isn’t for commercial use, I have a pickup that weighs over the 6000 pound limit for NYS. I am fighting the “unaltered commercial vehicle” ticket.
Hi, Harold,
Does it have a camper top installed?
Good luck!
Regards,
Larry
How is that even legal? So I guy drives to NYC from California where he is legally registered should not be held to NYC standards. A commercial vehicle registered in NYS, I totally understand. The problem is they’re all crooks and it’s about the almighty dollar.
Hi, Daniel,
Thanks for taking the time to share your opinion.
The “law” in all States have a provision that if a driver of a car voluntary decides to use the highways and byways of a State, they agree to follow the laws of that state. Plus, if they have an accident they also agree to appoint the Commission of Motor Vehicles as their agent for service of process.
We are sitting ducks when it comes to knowing the rules of the road.
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
I have a commercial box truck. How does this law apply to my truck?
Hi, Pedro,
Good morning. It does apply but, I am only able to refer you to the language of the rule for guidance.
Regards,
Larry
I got a ticket for this yesterday. If I get the proper labels on the vehicle tomorrow will be fine we removed?
First time dealing with this
Hi, Dave,
Good morning.
I’m afraid not. Parking violations for unaltered commercial vehicles do not grant a grace period to correct the mistakes.
Sorry.
Regards,
Larry
Is there any way a commercial vehicle would not require lettering. My commercial vehicle is not used for any type of work in NYC
Hi, Christian,
Good morning.
Not that I know of, but I’m better with passenger cars than commercial vehicles.
You may want to ask your question to Citywide (commercial tickets are their specialty). They’re great.
Hey, I got the same ticket. My truck is not a commercial vehicle and it will show that on my registration. Why did I receive this ticket? It is parked legally.
-Andrew, NYC
Hi, Andrew,
Good afternoon.
Does your truck have commercial plates? If not, I would fight the ticket.
Regards,
Larry
What if I had my own van with commercial plates and it was parked in front of my own home during the night, will I still get a ticket if I didn’t have no place else to park it?
My wife and I, my dog and cat are moving to Seattle.
I won’t be able to reply to comments until after October 1, 2020.
Sorry!
Regards,
Larry
I have a pick -up truck that was bought a in New Jersey I paid for tags and fees when I came to pick it up I ask about the commercial plates they told me anything over a 150 has to be registered with commercial plates coming from the dealer it’s my personal vehicle it’s a super duty ford I didn’t know these laws can I fight the ticket And can I stop from getting tickets in the future
My wife and I, my dog and cat are moving to Seattle.
I won’t be able to reply to comments until after October 1, 2020.
Sorry!
Regards,
Larry
Hello, I was parked in a commercial section of NYC. The vehicle has New York City commercial plates, but it’s a rental and has tinted windows on the rear doors, and it’s a four door pick up truck, so how would the ticket agent know if it’s unaltered if he can’t see inside the back seat? Will I be able to beat this ticket in court?
Hi Ashley,
Good afternoon.
What type of signage does your truck display on both sides?
Regards,
Larry
Hi Larry,
Good afternoon,
It displays magnetic signs that show the name of the company I work for along with the address. Yes both sides..