Is this an unaltered commercial vehilcle?

An NYC Parking Ticket for Unaltered Commercial Vehicle

Will this blue truck get an NYC parking ticket for unaltered commercial vehicle?
Will this truck get an unaltered commercial vehicle ticket?

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?

This image is a pick-up truck bearing commercial plates as an example of an unaltered commercial vehicle in NYC

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.

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.

This image shows a pick up truck properly altered with dark letter on the side door

 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.

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21 Comments

Lawrence Berezin

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

Daniel Clark

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.

Lawrence Berezin

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 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

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?