It can be frustrating and overwhelming when you receive a New York City parking ticket; but, many people choose to fight it and they end up winning. NYC ranking as among the most congested cities in the world by the 2022 Global Traffic Scorecard (a study by INRIX Inc.), combined with a lot of complex parking regulations, means that it's easy to end up with a parking ticket.
It's important to know that you have every right to challenge a parking ticket, if you believe it was issued in error. We're going to provide you a step-by-step guide for challenging a NYC parking ticket, including tips for preparing your defense, the hearing process, and potential outcomes.
Understanding the NYC Parking Ticket Process
Parking tickets in NYC can be issued by authorized issuing agents from 36 different NY agencies, including the Police Department, Fire Department, Traffic Enforment Agents (Meter Maids), Sherifs, Park Police and others (see full list in the appendix).
Parking violations in New York City include but are not limited to: parking in "no parking zones," parking too close to fire hydrants, double parking, and other offences. There are a lot of other instances that you may receive a ticket, but once you receive a parking ticket, you only have 30 days to contest it. If you choose to contest the ticket, you must do so in writing, either by mail or online.
Preparing Your Defense
The first step in challenging a parking ticket is to gather evidence to support your case.
This could include:
Properly labelled copies of photos: - of the entire side of the street where you are parked, from end to end
of all the parking signs on the side of the street you received the infraction (both front and back of the parking sign)
of the street signs confirming the parking location
of the property address where you are parked
The time and date should be present in the photos and the original photos should be kept safe. You should only submit copies to the court.
On top of evidence gathering, it's important to carefully review the ticket and make sure that all the information is accurate, such as the make and model of your vehicle, the location of the violation, and the time of day. Any wrong information is weighed upon carefully by the judge and you can either get a reduced fine or a dismissal of the ticket.
On the other hand, if you believe that the ticket was issued in error, it's important to identify any legal defenses that may apply. For example, a parking sign that was unclear or obstructed, or the parking enforcement officer made a mistake. These would be sample arguments that can support your case.
A strong case is crucial to the success of your defense. This means being organized and having all the necessary evidence ready to present at the hearing, is what you need to remember in building your case. It's also important to be prepared to answer questions and explain your case in a clear and concise (and respectful) manner.
Submitting Your Defense
Once you've prepared your defense, the next step is to submit it to the Department of Finance. This can be done through the following channels:
By mail
Send your ticket with a comprehensive explanation at the back on why you are not guilty for the infraction to this address:
NYC Department of Finance Hearings By Mail Unit P.O. Box 29021 Cadman Plaza Station Brooklyn, NY 11202-9021By going to any Finance Business Center
Walk-in hearings are conducted on a Monday to Friday basis, from 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
An eligible representative or a lawyer can appear in your behalf to request a hearing over your parking ticket. Formal writing must be furnished by the lawyer if they’re going to be your counsel in disputing your parking ticket (or tickets).By phone app
You can download the official New York City mobile app on your phone and dispute your parking ticket.By online portal
You will need to have to go to the portal, then enter your email, check your inbox, and that’s when you get to the online portal where you can file a dispute.
You'll need to include any supporting evidence and a written statement explaining your case. The NYC DOF already put up a list of all common reasons anyone would dispute their ticket. It's also important to note that there are strict deadlines for submitting a defense, so be sure to check the timeline for contesting a ticket and submit your defense in a timely manner. If your parking ticket is approximately 100 days old, it will go to judgment if no payment was received and it cannot be further go to a hearing process.
The Hearing Process
The hearing process for challenging a parking ticket in NYC is usually conducted in person. You can choose to represent yourself or hire an attorney to represent you. If you decide to represent yourself, it's important to be well-prepared and calm during the hearing. You must state your case in front of the hearing officer and answer any questions they may have.
The potential outcome of a hearing is either one of three things:
the ticket may be dismissed, wherein you won't need to pay the fine and the violation will not appear on your record.
the fine being reduced, where you'll only have to pay a smaller amount, but the violation will still show up on your record.
or the original fine will be upheld and you will need to pay the full amount while the violation will appear on your record.
Potential Penalties and Fines
The amount of the fine for a parking ticket in NYC varies depending on the violation. Fines are determined by the Department of Finance and are based on the severity of the violation.
Take a look at this ticket for starters. **
As of February 2, 2023, the ticket above is in violation of Code 31 which is “Standing of a non-commercial vehicle in a commercial metered zone” with the amount of $115.00. It already accrued several late penalties resulting to $145.00, with other violations already amounting to $1,077.01 upon looking up at the NYC plate lookup at our homepage. (see image below)
Not paying a parking ticket will end up with a fine increase and may face additional penalties. It’s quite normal that tickets can go up to hundreds of dollars if left unpaid. You can review the big list of all ticket violation codes and corresponding fines right here.
References:
The Rules of the City of New York, Title 19: Department of Finance, Chapter 39: Parking Violations
If you don't have a lot of time to go through all the legalese and you would rather spend it on something worthwhile, the easiest way to pay your parking tickets is through Pay NYC Fines. We offer the fastest way to pay & manage NYC parking tickets. You can also set up alerts for new parking tickets and upcoming penalties via text and pay in less than 1 minute. Visit our homepage to get started or our articles page to learn more.
Appendix:
Full list of agencies that can issue parking tickets Appendix:
Full list of agencies that can issue parking tickets
Police Department
Fire Department
Department of Transportation
Traffic Enforcement Agents
Department of Sanitation
Sheriff
Under Sheriff and Deputy Sheriffs of the Department of Finance's Office of the City Sheriff
Fraud and Associate Fraud Investigators of the Department of Finance
Department of Business Services
Business Integrity Commissio
New York City Housing Authority Polic
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police
Police of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and its subsidiary authorities
United States Park Police
Department of Buildings Special Patrolmen
State Regional Park Police
Taxi and Limousine Commission
Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor
Department of Parks and Recreation
Department of Correction
Roosevelt Island Security Organization
Sea Gate Association Police
Snug Harbor Rangers with peace officer status
Officers of the Co-op City Department of Public Safety
Amtrak Police Officers
Office of Court Administration Court Officers
Department of Health Police Officers
Health and Hospitals Corporation Police Officers
New York State Office of Mental Health Safety Officers
New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Police Officers
Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority Police Officers
State University Maritime College Public Safety Officers
Department of Environmental Protection Police Officers
Managers of the New York City Transit Authority
Officers of the Federal Protective Service of the United States Department of Homeland
Security Office
Special Patrolmen appointed by the Police Commissioner