That's nice to know, but I think we're a little late for that though. So, we'll do what we can to get you out of your ticket. But, you have to promise that you're not going to let this happen again!
Did you promise? Ok, good. Let's get started.
The first thing you should know is that I am not a lawyer. I can be completely and utterly wrong on this subject. However, my experience has shown that more often than not, I'm right when it comes to these tickets. I've gotten out of over half of all parking tickets I've received in NYC. But, that fact alone does not make me qualified in any legal sense. No lawyer, competent or otherwise, has reviewed anything I'm about to tell you. I can't tell you what to do or how to get out of your particular ticket. USE OF THE INFORMATION ON THIS SITE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. If you still have to pay a fine or get even more fines lumped on, or the city takes your car, your house, or your wife, it's not my fault. Remember, you got the parking ticket, not me! No warranty is expressed or implied.
Ok, now that the legal nonsense is out of the way, let's get started.
Below are some examples of sample defenses that may or may not get you out of a parking ticket. They are, for the most part, taken from the NYC Dept of Finance Adjucation Division's guide to parking ticket hearings. I've included some notes that might help you use them successfully. In addition to the violation-specific items below, there are some other defenses that you might be able to use...as well as some you should not even bother with.
This summons should be dismissed because there was no sign anywhere on the block prohibiting standing.
This summons should be dismissed because the violation described on the ticket does not match the sign for this area. The sign said "No parking anytime" and my vehicle was not parked at the location. Since my vehicle did not violate any regulation the ticket should be dismissed.
This summons should be dismissed because the violation described on the ticket does not match the sign for this area. The sign said "No parking anytime" and my vehicle was not parked at the location. Since my vehicle did not violate any regulation the ticket should be dismissed.
This summons should be dismissed because my vehicle was displaying a permit in accordance with the sign regulating standing at the location. At the location described on the ticket, vehicles with Department of Mental Hygiene permits are allowed to stand. Copies of the permit are included. Since my vehicle was standing with the correct permit displayed the ticket should be dismissed.
Also, submit copes of your permit or registration. This is not a defense that's likely to succeed without this information. Thus, you should mail it in or contest it in person.
This is a situation-specific defense. The only example I can think of off the top of my head is when there was a parking meter (thus, an otherwise legal parking spot by virtue of the fact that the city is allowing you to park there if you pay them) where the spot was not large enough for a reasonably sized vehicle to fit without also being in the no standing zone. By using this defense you are essentially admitting that you are guilty and hoping the ALJ agrees with you.
This summons should be dismissed because the spot where the vehicle was parked has conflicting regulations. My vehicle was legally parked at a parking meter. My vehicle is not unusually large and was pulled up to the front of the parking space. The space afforded by the parking meter is not large enough for a reasonably sized vehicle to park and also not be in violation of the no standing anytime regulation. Since the location where the vehicle was parked has conflicting regulations this summons should be dismissed.
This summons should be dismissed because I was dropping off a passenger. At the time indicated on the summons I was dropping off my mother. I did not exit the vehicle and the vehicle was not at the location any longer than it needed to let her off. Since the vehicle was operated in a legal manner for the location the summons should be dismissed.
This is a catch all and generally used for technicalities. Be careful, you might admit guilt if you word this improperly (such as saying "my car was at the location described").
This summons should be dismissed because I was not parked in violation of the posted sign. My vehicle was stopped at a stoplight and not standing. Since my vehicle was being operated legally and not in violation of the posted regulations the ticket should be dismissed.
Possible sample defenses for Code 17 - No standing except authorized vehicles
- Only one sign is needed to cover an entire block, even if it's posted far away from your car.
- A parking zone begins at the posted sign and continues in the direction(s) of the arrow to the next posted sign or to the corner of the block.
- In a no parking zone you can unload items to the curb only.
- Painted yellow lines or other markings are not an indication of the regulated zone (for this type of regulation).
I had a permit to stand in this zone.
This summons should be dismissed because my vehicle was displaying a permit in accordance with the sign regulating standing at the location. At the location described on the ticket, vehicles with Department of Mental Hygiene permits are allowed to stand. Copies of the permit are included. Since my vehicle was standing with the correct permit displayed the ticket should be dismissed.
Also, submit copes of your permit or registration. This is not a defense that's likely to succeed without this information. Thus, you should mail it in or contest it in person.
There was no sign anywhere on the block.
This summons should be dismissed because there was no sign anywhere on the block prohibiting standing.
Evidence that may be needed includes overlapping photographs that show:
- the entire block, corner to corner, including the address where the vehicle was parked, and
- All signs front and back, and
- The signs indiciating the street name.
This is not a defense that's likely to succeed without pictures. Thus, you should mail it in or contest it in person.
The officer wrote the wrong violation on the summons.
This summons should be dismissed because the violation described on the ticket does not match the sign for this area. The sign said "No parking anytime" and my vehicle was merely standing at the location. Since my vehicle did not violate any regulation the ticket should be dismissed.
The spot where the vehicle was parked has conflicting regulations.
This is a situation-specific defense. The only example I can think of off the top of my head is when there was a parking meter (thus, an otherwise legal parking spot by virtue of the fact that the city is allowing you to park there if you pay them) where the spot was not large enough for a reasonably sized vehicle to fit without also being in the no standing zone. By using this defense you are essentially admitting that you are guilty and hoping the ALJ agrees with you.
This summons should be dismissed because the spot where the vehicle was parked has conflicting regulations. My vehicle was legally parked at a parking meter. My vehicle is not unusually large and was pulled up to the front of the parking space. The space afforded by the parking meter is not large enough for a reasonably sized vehicle to park and also not be in violation of the no standing anytime regulation. Since the location where the vehicle was parked has conflicting regulations this summons should be dismissed.
I was dropping off or picking up a passenger.
This summons should be dismissed because I was dropping off a passenger. At the time indicated on the summons I was dropping off my mother. I did not exit the vehicle and the vehicle was not at the location any longer than it needed to let her off. Since the vehicle was operated in a legal manner for the location the summons should be dismissed.
I was not parked in violation of the posted sign.
This is a catch all and generally used for technicalities. Be careful, you might admit guilt if you word this improperly (such as saying "my car was at the location described").
This summons should be dismissed because I was not parked in violation of the posted sign. My vehicle was stopped at a stoplight and not standing. Since my vehicle was being operated legally and not in violation of the posted regulations the ticket should be dismissed.
Possible sample defenses for Code 24 - No parking except authorized vehicles
- Only one sign is needed to cover an entire block, even if it's posted far away from your car.
- A parking zone begins at the posted sign and continues in the direction(s) of the arrow to the next posted sign or to the corner of the block.
- In a no parking zone you can unload items to the curb only.
- Painted yellow lines or other markings are not an indication of the regulated zone (for this type of regulation).
I had a permit to park in this zone.
This summons should be dismissed because my vehicle was displaying a permit in accordance with the sign regulating standing at the location. At the location described on the ticket, vehicles with Department of Mental Hygiene permits are allowed to park. Copies of the permit are included. Since my vehicle was standing with the correct permit displayed the ticket should be dismissed.
Also, submit copes of your permit or registration. This is not a defense that's likely to succeed without this information. Thus, you should mail it in or contest it in person.
There was no sign anywhere on the block.
This summons should be dismissed because there was no sign anywhere on the block prohibiting parking.
Evidence that may be needed includes overlapping photographs that show:
- the entire block, corner to corner, including the address where the vehicle was parked, and
- All signs front and back, and
- The signs indiciating the street name.
This is not a defense that's likely to succeed without pictures. Thus, you should mail it in or contest it in person.
The officer wrote the wrong violation on the summons.
This summons should be dismissed because the violation described on the ticket does not match the sign for this area. The sign said "No parking anytime" and my vehicle was merely standing at the location. Since my vehicle did not violate any regulation the ticket should be dismissed.
The spot where the vehicle was parked has conflicting regulations.
This is a situation-specific defense. The only example I can think of off the top of my head is when there was a parking meter (thus, an otherwise legal parking spot by virtue of the fact that the city is allowing you to park there if you pay them) where the spot was not large enough for a reasonably sized vehicle to fit without also being in the no standing zone. By using this defense you are essentially admitting that you are guilty and hoping the ALJ agrees with you.
This summons should be dismissed because the spot where the vehicle was parked has conflicting regulations. My vehicle was legally parked at a parking meter. My vehicle is not unusually large and was pulled up to the front of the parking space. The space afforded by the parking meter is not large enough for a reasonably sized vehicle to park and also not be in violation of the no standing anytime regulation. Since the location where the vehicle was parked has conflicting regulations this summons should be dismissed.
I was dropping off or picking up a passenger.
This summons should be dismissed because I was dropping off a passenger. At the time indicated on the summons I was dropping off my mother. I did not exit the vehicle and the vehicle was not at the location any longer than it needed to let her off. Since the vehicle was operated in a legal manner for the location the summons should be dismissed.
I was not parked in violation of the posted sign.
This is a catch all and generally used for technicalities. Be careful, you might admit guilt if you word this improperly (such as saying "my car was at the location described").
This summons should be dismissed because I was not parked in violation of the posted sign. My vehicle was stopped at a stoplight and not standing. Since my vehicle was being operated legally and not in violation of the posted regulations the ticket should be dismissed.
Strategies for fighting tickets
Dispute the information on the ticket describing your car
From nyc.gov: "If the plate number, State of Regstriation, Vehicle Make, or Vehicle Body is missing, incomplete, illegible or misdescribed, the ticket CAN be dismissed. (not MUST!!!). For vehicles where the plate type is shown on the registration sticker or plate(s), the Plate Type must be listed as it appears on the registration sticker or plate(s) unless unreadable."
So, check this information carefully. Note that word "can". Disputing this information is no guarantee that it will get dismissed. The pamphlet goes on to say that the criteria is "determined by a DOF Administrative Law Judge", thus it may not be consistent from ALJ to ALJ.
"This ticket should be dismissed because the license plate number does not match that of my car. My car's license plate is ABC123 but the ticket says 123ABC. Because my vehicle is misdescribed the ticket should be dismissed."
If you have a non-NY plate and registration and the registration date is on the license plate instead of a window sticker (NJ used to do this, and it almost worked once...but I didn't set the date on the camera and it imprinted a two-year old date on the photo. The ALJ pointed this out and if I had the time to appeal it based on the fact that the date on the photo is not an indication of the actual date (is your VCR blinking 12:00??) I probably would have won.), submit a photo of your license plate and a shot of the rear of your car: "This ticket should be dismissed because the Date Registration Expires does not correctly describe my vehicle. My car is registered in -state- and the expiration date is clearly visible on the sticker on the license plate as shown in the included photos. Beceause my vehcile is not completely described this ticket should be dismissed."
Dispute the information on the ticket describing the location of your car
Dispute the law itself - If you're not a lawyer, don't bother. If you are a lawyer, don't bother.
Explain the situation
Beg for forgiveness - Fat chance