What’s the Difference between “Expired” Meter & “Feeding-the-Meter?”

Last Updated on November 24, 2016 by Lawrence Berezin

The NYC parking ticket story

I recently received a telephone call from Calvin, a super nice member of the NYC driving community, with a question. Calvin asked:

“I just got a parking ticket for a parking meter violation. But, the meter never expired because I kept inserting coins reactivating the parking meter.”

I asked Calvin:

“Was the NYC parking ticket for “expired” parking meter, or “feeding-the-meter?”

Calvin replied:

“What’s the difference?”

The difference between “expired” meter and “feeding-the-meter”

A parking ticket warrior issues an “expired” meter parking ticket when the “lawful parking time in such space has expired…” [RCNY 34 4-08 (h)(2)].

A parking ticket warrior issues a NYC parking ticket for “feeding-the-meter” when you activate the meter for the parking limits allowed in the space; and upon expiration of the legal time limit, you reactivate the meter.

“…but in no event may [a] person remain at the space in excess of the specified time limits applicable to the parking meter zone in which such meter is located.” [34 RCNY 4-08 (h)(1).

For example, Calvin parks his car in a space regulated by a parking meter in a parking zone with a one (1) hour limit. Calvin activates the parking meter for the full one hour. Calvin hasn’t finished his business, so he returns to his parking space (prior to the meter expiring), and reactivates the meter for another one hour. Ca-ching.

Calvin returns to his car and finds an angry, orange, epistle, under the wiper. The parking crime is “feeding-the-meter,” not “expired meter.”

A NYC parking ticket tip

Have you ever been issued a parking ticket for “No-Something” between the time you commenced parking your car in the parking space, turning off your engine, walking to the parking meter, depositing the appropriate currency in the toll-on-the-pole, and activating the meter?

You can beat this parking ticket because there is a parking “time-out” while paying for the privilege of leasing curbside space in our busy metropolis.

“This provision shall not apply to the act of parking or the time necessary to activate the meter.” [34 RCNY 4-08 (h) (1) and (2)].

Commentary

• It is important to know the time limits in your parking zone.
• “Expired Meter” is when the time on the toll-on-the-pole runs out before you exit the space
• “Feeding-the-meter” means reactivating the meter two or more times after the time limits in your parking zone end
• You can beat a NYC parking ticket if it is issued while you are parking and in the process of activating the parking meter
• If you receive a parking ticket for “expired meter” when it should have been for “feeding-the-meter,” you can beat the ticket.
• The parking ticket warrior is required to enter the meter number, attest the parking meter is operational, and insert the time limits on your parking ticket. If not, you win, upon application

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The NYC parking ticket rules covering “expired meters” and “feeding-the-meter”. Do you know exactly what action to take if a muni-meter is broken? The Rule clearly states…