NYPD parking ticket issues

So I've been a regular alternate side parker for more than 5 years now and have learned to avoid fire hydrants (you're never far enough away) ect but I've received 3 parking tickets in last 2 weeks that are very suspect.

1st- I won't challenge the ticket because I was in the wrong (according to the law) but I was given a $65 ticket for having a bumper guard blocking my front plate. I've only done that for 5 years and never been ticketed and had no idea that was a violation; it is.

2nd- there is a fire hydrant a few feet to the left of our building that cars routinely pull into to let someone off, unload packages ect. One of the officers who patrols he neighborhood said most officers will usually give this a five minute rule to stop people from double parking and blocking the road.
I came back from a trip to Philly and wanted to drop my bag and use the restroom. I was gone for roughly 2 mins and got a $115 ticket for blocking the fire hydrant. I was parked away from the curb with my flashers on to make it clear this was a temporary situation. It must have been an officer driving by because I looked around and no one was on the beat. Again, technically wrong but what the hell? Thankfully they wrote the ticket incorrectly and I will likely get out of it.

3rd- this morning I was parked in a spot that didn't need to move until tomorrow but my ETD was such that I would have been blocked in by the alternate side parker's that had to move today. So I made someone's day and moved my car from its spot and double parked like everyone else. I left my apt at 815 on the nose and probably locked the double parked car at 818. I received a ticket at 821 for double parking. By the time I found the ticket at 845 the street was full of non-ticketed double parked cars. When I originally parked there were at least a dozen other cars double parked and unattended that we're not ticketed.

Obviously part of this is the fact that I need to vent, but do I have any recourse here? I despise the police because of situations like this and their unwillingness to assist in anyway, but they have to see this is wrong, right? If I make too big of a stink about this do they crack down on the street?

 

I know a former NYC fireman who gets enraged when he sees an unattended vehicle in front of a fire hydrant. He says the problem is, in an emergency, the firemen can't connect the pumper to the hydrant without towing the car. Obviously this can cost lives, and I assume the cops are aware of this.

I know you said you had the flashers on, but how does the officer know if you're gone for a minute or an hour?

As far as your other tickets, I can sympathize because I received many dubious tickets when I lived in Manhattan. Since they are not moving violations and don't add points to your license, I would just pay the piper. IMO, not worth a day in traffic court.

 

Still cheaper than a garage ! BMW? Cause they hate'm.

 

Audi wagon... About the same.

 

You know you don't have any option but to pay, pay, pay. It ticks me off that you actually pay the "Dept of Finance" rather than the "Parking Violations Bureau". They make it quite clear what the tickets are about.

How long have you lived in NYC? Why do you even have a car there?

 

Actually in an emergency the firemen either break the windows and put the hose through, put the hose on the car, or use tow dollys and push them down the street.

 

In 2009, I paid about $1500 in tickets and got my car towed twice for not paying on time. While most of those tickets were my fault entirely, I had a few that were very unwarranted. Well, I tried to fight every single one of them and lost all of them.

The lesson I learned is, don't do anything that may be on the border of legality, even if others are doing it. I feel your pain, but next time don't give them a reason to ticket you at all...
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

$1500?! I'm coming out ahead. I went the last two years without a single ticket...

MK, I've been in NYC for 5 of the last 7 years. I first lived in manhattan an commuter to my job in NJ. Currently I work for a chemical shipping company as the northeast sales rep and drive from Boston to DC. On days when I'm home I can easily play the parking game. I love NYC but I love having the car to getaway as well.

Also, since they brought back the boots the threshold for forcing people to pay is now much lower than when it was toe only...

 

Do you really need your car every day? NYC is one of the few places you can live completely without a car. I've known a few life-long New Yorkers that never even had driver's licenses.

I grew up in NYC and spent a good part of my life there. Have been in Bergen County for a while now.

Mostly if you live in an outer borough you can find reasonable parking. But in Manhattan it's hard to justify owning a car. I imagine a parking garage spot in Manhattan is around $4,000 per year now? Or more?

 

I've had a car towed and been ticketed numerous times. These guys are straight criminals robbing you to fund their bloated pension and compensation plans. Sad nothing can be done barring revolution.

 

FYI

If the tow truck is at your car and they haven't lifted it. They cannot legally take it. You tell them that pursuant to Title 34 of the city code they must release it.

 

Absolutely correct. Tell any extortionist tow operator to pound sand if he tries to prevent you from leaving or demands a lesser 'fee' for not taking your car to the yard where it'll cost you 4x to get it out later.

 

Here's the link to the NYC Code. what's the code segment that states that? I can't find it.

 

I don't think the tow trucks are private operators. Pretty sure these are city trucks that take cars to the city pound.

Towing is down now anyway because the boots are back...

 

good to know thanks for the heads up

 

NYC parking cops are the worst and the signs are confusing on purpose. I remember visiting as a poor student and getting hit with a $100 fine because I got confused by the signs (I had paid the parking meter but at that time it was commercial only parking). I actually took the time to go to the judge and explain the whole situation to him and guess what he did? Didly squat. Eventually had to pay the fine. Never have I come across a less understanding govt. official. That just proved to me that parking tickets in NY is a revenue generator (as opposed to a law enforcing tool) and it's best to simple pay for the garage parking when there is even an iota of doubt about the street parking rules.

 

Title 34 Department of transportation 4-08 Parking, stopping, standing subsection (9) (iii)(ix) When a vehicle has been hooked to a tow truck in preparation for removal to a pound but the owner or other person lawfully entitled to possession of such vehicle appears and requests the release of such vehicle before the tow truck is in motion, such vehicle shall be unhooked and released, providing, however, that the person to whom such a vehicle is released must execute a binding agreement consenting to pay the vehicle release penalty.

 

Right, in NYC the traffic division is under NYPD. Should've clarified I was referring to private tows.

 

We pay $5700 in Hells Kitchen for our "exotic" car, plus $600 cash to have a semi-fixed spot (no bumper rash), plus $750 in take out tips, plus $250 Christmas bonus.

 

Again today, only car ticketed for double parking. This time at 827a, rules start at 830a. Same officer.

 

That officer really doesn't like Audis

 

The best chance you have getting a ticket is right at the time change. They always lie about the time.

 

I definitely do not miss the days back in the 80s of sitting in the car waiting for that side of the street to become legal!

 

Sounds like my old garage in the archstone... place was a rip.

 

Sucks, but there is nothing you can do but hope they scribble your license plate wrong. Makes me furious to hear about this.

Think I got OP beat in the absurd ticket area...

Managed to get the very rare and infamous "60" violation: "standing or parking at an angle to the curb, except where authorized by sign or rule."

And here was my park job...



Thats the only ticket I have ever gotten out of.
Image Unavailable, Please Login