It comes as no surprise that the bustling New York City has some of the most congested roads in the country. And if you’ve previously only driven on spacious country roads of your hometown, then driving in NYC will be challenging, to say the least.
Navigating NYC traffic as well as finding the right parking spot can be tricky. And a minor misjudgment can get you a hefty parking ticket. Whether you’re new to the city or driving here for the first time, we can help you avoid parking tickets.
In this post, we’re summarizing common mistakes that can set you back a couple of hundred dollars. Take a look.
Beware of No Standing Zone
It goes without saying but you cannot park in a ‘No Standing Zone’, even for a couple of minutes. If you are picking up or dropping someone off, then do it quickly and get moving.
Particularly, bus stops are ‘No Standing Zones’ you need to be aware of. You cannot park your car while your friend takes out their luggage. You can stop, drop them and immediately drive off. Otherwise, be ready to get a ticket for parking in a ‘No Standing Zone’.
Don’t Double Park
You decide to double park your car for just a few minutes because you have to quickly grab something from your friend’s apartment. But that’s enough time for a warrior or cop to write you a ticket for a parking violation. Double parking is not worth the costly fine.
Stay Clear of Fire Hydrants
So you were in a hurry and found a suitable spot for parking your commercial vehicle. But you failed to notice the fire hydrant! You are not allowed to park your commercial vehicle within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
But what has a fire hydrant got to do with parking? Well, there is a good reason for it. If a fire breaks out in the neighborhood, the firefighters will need access to the hydrant and your vehicle will be a hindrance.
As far as passenger cars are concerned, you can park your car within 15 feet of a fire hydrant as long as you are a licensed driver sitting behind the wheels and ready to move if needed. Also, you are only allowed to do so between sunrise and sunset.
Know Street Cleaning Days
Usually, New York City streets are cleaned once or twice a week by the Department of Sanitation. While at times you may get away with double parking your car on the unrestricted side of the street, you can’t always count on good luck.
Since it is illegal to double park, it would be best to find another parking spot or just circle around the block till the street is cleaned. Once you’re sure the street sweeping process is complete, you can park your car.
Avoid Broken Muni-Meters
Technically, you can legally park for free if a muni-meter is broken. But along with that, you have to check and get proof there is no other working meter in that parking zone. And if there is, then you have to purchase time from a working meter. With New York being as busy as is, the best solution would be to get a monthly parking NYC permit which would allow you to find available parking spots at an instant, so you avoid any hassle, even broken muni-meters.
Final Words
It’s no secret that living in NYC is expensive. On top of that, you don’t want to get stuck with parking tickets that will further increase your expenses. Moreover, you can’t just ignore a parking ticket and hope it goes away. An unpaid fine can impact your credit score!
Before paying a parking fine, make sure you thoroughly examine the ticket first. Did you receive a ticket despite parking correctly? In such cases, you can consider disputing NYC parking tickets to avoid paying an unjustifiable fine.
