What Everyone Ought to Know about the NYC No Parking Rule

Last Updated on October 21, 2017 by Lawrence Berezin

What is your favorite no parking rule myth?

I enjoy reading about myths, but I love debunking ’em more. Here are some famous myths:

• Don’t swim on a full stomach
• Put butter on a sunburn
• Poison ivy is contagious.
• Mr. Rogers was a navy seal during the Vietnam war
• JFK and the jelly donut speech

But, none of these myths cost you a bunch of bucks. But, the NYC parking rule myths do! So, without further adieu, a debunking we will go…

Myth: “Sitting in your car keeps the parking ticket warrior away in a no parking zone”

I hear this all the time…” I can’t believe the parking ticket warrior stuck a parking ticket under my windshield when I was sitting in my car behind the steering wheel.” Unfortunately, the definition of “parking” is:

“Parking” shall mean the standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading property or passengers.

If you stop your chariot in a no parking zone and stay seated behind the wheel, you may as well start writing your check now.

Myth: “But, I kept the motor running while stopping in a no parking zone”

Even if you’re Steppenwolf, idling is not a defense to a no parking ticket. As a matter of fact, idling is a separate parking violation if you keep your motor running for more than 3 minutes.

Myth:  “I was standing not parking”

Standing is stopping your vehicle and parking is standing your vehicle. In other words, standing and parking involve halting your vehicle, even for only a NY minute.

The difference between parking and standing is THE ACTIVITY YOU ARE PERMITTED TO PERFORM IN A NO STANDING ZONE AND NO PARKING ZONE.

• In a no standing zone, you are permitted to stop temporarily to expeditiously drop off-pick up people and skedaddle.
• In a no parking zone, you are permitted to stop temporarily to expeditiously drop off-pick up people and their personal property and skedaddle.

It is a really good idea to learn and re-learn the difference between standing and parking.