Are you planning a visit to NYC? If you plan to drive a car on the mean streets of NYC, this guide is for you!

2.
Table of Contents
Introduction…………………………………………………….3
Larry’s Top 10 Tips………………………………………….4
Fire Hydrant Violation……………………………………..6
Bus Stop Violation……………………………………………7
Required Elements…………………………………………..9
The 3 No’s………………………………………………………11
Alternate Side Parking Rule…………………………..15
Muni Meter Parking Rules……………………………..17
Pedestrian Ramps………………………………………….20
Customer Success………………………………………….23
Resources………………………………………………………34
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3. I willkommen, bienvenue, welcome you to the city that never
sleeps. Do you know why? Because parking ticket warriors are
too busy (24/7) issuing NYC parking tickets to unsuspecting
members of the driving community visiting New York City.
There are wonderful people from all over the world falling prey
every minute to indecipherable parking signs, and voracious
bus stop zones (do you know where a bus stop ends?).
How many parking tickets can a parking ticket warrior issue
during the course of a day for the same parking violation while
your car is parked in the same space? (See Top 10 Tips #10)
In 2011 approximately 9.5M parking tickets were issued
generating more than $570M in revenue. Many of the parking
tickets were justified. But, many were scandalous and beatable.
There is a veritable plethora of parking violations, 99 in all,
ranging from a simple $35 parking ticket for an expired meter
violation all the way up to a $180 for parking an unauthorized
vehicle in a handicap parking zone. There are legal “curb cuts”
and illegal “curb cuts.” What’s the difference? Can you stop
temporarily to drop off a passenger in a no standing zone? What
activities can you perform in a no parking zone?
Our mantra at New York Parking Ticket LLC is “When you’re
right, FIGHT” and “Knowledge is Power.” Hold on to your wallet
and get ready for a wild ride. You will be well served to consume
this “Visitor’s Guide to Beating NYC Parking Tickets” before you
attempt to navigate and park on the mean streets of New York
City.
Enjoy our wonderful city and park safely.
Regards,
Larry
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4. 1.You are prohibited from parking within 15 feet of a fire
hydrant
2. EXCEPTION: You are permitted to park your passenger
vehicle within 15 feet of a fire hydrant between sunrise and
sunset, as long as a licensed driver, remains seated behind the
wheel, with the keys, ready to move, upon request to do so
3. A bus stop zone starts at the bus stop sign and extends in the
direction of the arrow (s) until the next parking sign, or the end
of a block. The length of a bus stop varies on every block
4. You can stop temporarily to drop off or pick up a passenger in
a no standing zone.
5. You can stop temporarily to drop off or pick up a passenger
and property in a no parking zone
6. You can park in front of a curb cut located in the middle of the
block, as long as there are no marked crosswalks, traffic control
devices, or stop signs regulating traffic
7. A parking ticket judge is required to dismiss a parking ticket
issued while you were walking to and fro a muni meter to pay
for parking (you’ve got 5 minutes from the time your parking
ticket is issued to purchase parking time at the muni meter)
8. It is illegal to double park on the unrestricted side of the
street during street cleaning hours (despite the custom in many
neighborhoods for cops and warriors to look the other way until
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5. they decide not to look the other way.
9. A parking ticket warrior is prohibited from issuing a parking
ticket within 5 minutes of a rule change (this is called the “5
minute grace period.” For example, if a street cleaning sign
prohibits parking from 9-10:30 a.m., a cop or warrior is
prohibited from issuing a parking ticket until 9:06 a.m.).
10. It is customary for the Evil Empire (NYC Department of
Finance) to dismiss subsequent “location” parking tickets issued
for the same violation while your vehicle is parked in the same
space within 1-3 hours of the first parking ticket; and to dismiss
subsequent “status” parking tickets issued for the same “status”
violation while parked anywhere in NYC within 24 hours of the
first parking ticket (location violations are no parking, no
stopping, no standing, etc....While status violations are expired
registration, expired inspection sticker, etc.)
BONUS TIP:
All NYC is a tow away zone. No notice is required. Your chariot
can be towed when issued one parking ticket.
BONUS TIP:
The more restrictive parking rule applies when there are more
than one parking sign regulating your parking space. No trumps
yes.
5

6. The Rule: Stopping, standing, or parking closer than 15 feet
from a fire hydrant is prohibited
The Exception:
• Between sunrise and sunset
• A passenger vehicle
• May stand alongside (or within 15 feet) of a fire hydrant
• As long as a driver remains behind the wheel
• And is ready to move the vehicle if required to do so !Tips
• You can park within 15 feet of a broken fire hydrant, if...I was
asked a question by Italia, a terrific friend of New !York
Parking Ticket LL, whether she should fight a fire hydrant
parking ticket; if the fire hydrant was broken. My response
was YES; if you can prove the fire hydrant was in fact out
of service. !Fast-forward...Italia sent me an email with great
news about the outcome of her NYC parking ticket fight.
She won because her photograph of the fire hydrant
clearly, unequivocally, without a shadow of a doubt,
persuaded the NYC parking ticket judge the pump was not
pumping. Parking Ticket dismissed! !Copy and paste the
following URL into your
browser: !http://www.newyorkparkingticket.com/Blog/bid/
65407/T heT !“Truth-about-Broken-NYC-Fire-Hydrants-
Parking-Tickets”
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7. The Rule: "No person shall stand or park a vehicle other than an
authorized bus in its assigned bus stop when any such stop has
been officially designated and appropriately posted except that
the operator of a vehicle may temporarily stand therein for the
purpose of expeditiously receiving and discharging passengers
provided such standing does not interfere with any bus about to
enter or leave such zone."
A bus stop zone begins at the bus stop sign and extends in the
direction of the arrow(s) until the next parking sign; or if no
parking sign, the end of the block.
It matters NOT that you parked far enough away from the bus
stop sign for a bus to fit; or other people parked in the bus stop
zone, and didn't get a ticket.
Find the bus stop sign, identify the direction(s) the arrow
points; and locate the next parking sign in the direction of the
arrow, or if no parking sign, the end of the block.
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8. Tip:
The Reality
A parking ticket warrior observes your car stopped for ten (10)
seconds in a bus stop zone, while unloading a passenger (a
perfectly legal activity), but still issues a NYC parking ticket.
This means a parking ticket warrior swears he/she observed
you standing too long in a bus stop zone; or discharging your
passenger in an inefficient manner; or blocking a bus. How are
you going to rebut this "sworn testimony?"
The reality is you can't.
I represented a father who picked up his daughter at the train
station from school every day. The father and daughter stayed
in touch by cell phone. The father parked his car two blocks
from the train station; and when his daughter was walking down
the staircase from the train platform, she called her father on
her cell phone. Her father drove the two blocks and picked his
daughter up at the curb. The entire process, from Dad's arrival
at the curb with his daughter standing by the curb, through the
daughter entering the car took less than one minute. Problem
was the father stopped to pick-up his daughter in a bus stop
zone. BADABING! Parking ticket.
We submitted affidavits and photographs. We lost at the original
hearing, and lost the appeal. My point is trying your absolute
best to avoid standing in a bus stop zone. You can beat the
parking ticket if you persuade a judge the warrior lied about the
length of your stop...I've beaten bus stop parking tickets, but it is
not an easy trick.
Since a bus stop violation is a NO STANDING violation, you
cannot unload your property to the curb (A client of ours
received a parking ticket for exiting a car in a bus stop zone
holding her business briefcase, which the warrior considered to
be unloading property to the curb...absurd).
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9. Required Elements are like get-out-of-jail-free-cards. A parking
ticket warrior is required to enter certain bite size bits of
information on the front of your parking ticket to establish a
case against you. If a required element is omitted, misdescribed,
or illegible you win upon application and presenting the proper
proof, properly.
For example, if the body type of your vehicle is misdescribed
(sedan vs. suburban) and you submit a copy of your vehicle
registration and photographs when you fight your parking
ticket by mail, a judge will dismiss your parking ticket. [Larry’s
note: A warrior is required to enter the exact body type that
appears on the vehicle registration for vehicles registered in
NY. But, for out-of-state vehicles a warrior is simply required to
enter a “reasonably accurate” description of the body type.
The following is an image of a NYC parking ticket with red
arrows pointing to the “required elements.”
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10. 10

11. Understanding the 3 No’s is absolutely essential for pain- free
parking in New York City. Here’s the trick, don’t make up your
own definition of stopping, standing and parking. I promise you
it will not match the tricky and deceiving definition created by
the Evil Empire.
The act of stopping your vehicle, standing your vehicle, and
parking your vehicle is the same; it is halting your chariot for a
split second whether occupied or not.
O.K. wise guy, if stopping, standing, and parking mean the same
thing (halting your chariot for a split second whether occupied
or not), why did the Evil Empire use all three words?
Great question. The activities you permitted to perform in each
zone (stopping, standing, and parking zones) are different.
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12. For example:
• In a no stopping zone, you cannot halt your vehicle for a NY
minute, whether or not you remain seated in your car
behind the wheel. Never, ever, stop in a no stopping zone,
not even to sneeze, talk on your cell phone, change your
baby’s diapers (true story), or ask for directions. It’ll cost
you
• In a no standing zone, you are permitted to stop temporarily
to drop off or pick up a passenger, but you cannot pick up a
passenger and property in a no standing zone. In other
words, you can’t drop your spouse with the groceries in a
no standing zone. You cannot wait for your 1 year-old child
to walk into the hotel.
• In a no parking zone, you are permitted to stop temporarily
to drop off or pick up passengers and property. You cannot
wait for your 102 year-old aunt Tillie to walk into the
hotel. Stop, drop, and go. If you stop, drop, and wait, you’re
inviting a warrior to issue a NYC parking ticket. !TIPS
• When you see your first three-headed monster on a gotcha
pole, the more restrictive rules wins the battle of the signs.
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13. The more restrictive red sign overrules the less restrictive
white sign
13

14. You may find it helpful to take a moment of your valuable time
to check out a power point presentation I published about how
to understand NYC parking sign language.
Copy and paste the URL of the slideshow in your browser:
http://www.slideshare.net/lberezin/your-essential-guide- to-
nyc-parking-signs
“The Essential Guide to NYC Parking Signs”
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15. Love and marriage, and alternate side parking rules for street
cleaning and NYC go together like a horse and carriage. You’ll
find these signs everywhere.
NYC requires you to move your car to the other side of the
street during certain hours on certain days of the week. Easy?
No way!
Why not? Because you have to find a vacant parking space to
temporarily park you car until the end of street cleaning hours.
Myths Debunked:
• In my neighborhood it is legal to double-park on the
unrestricted side of the street. NO
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16. • It’s O.K. to sit in my car and move it when I see the street
sweeper coming down our block, and then park it on the
restricted side of the street once the street sweeper pass.
NO
• !It is customary in many neighborhoods for cops and warriors
to turn the other cheek...until parking ticket quota time.
And then you’ll get a parking ticket, or worse, your chariot
will be towed.
16

17. NYC is slowly but surely replacing mechanical parking meters
with muni meters. Here’s a link to a page on the NYC
Department of Transportation website dedicated to how to park
and pay at muni meters. Please copy and paste the URL into
your Browser
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/motorist/meterpark.shtml
The NYC council recently enacted legislation eliminating some
of the harsh enforcement tactics employed by cops and warriors
issuing muni meter parking tickets.
Here’s a reprint of a blog post about the wonderful new muni
meter bills
More good parking laws mean fewer NYC parking tickets
I am still receiving questions from some of the wonderful
members of the NYC driving community about how to fight a
NYC parking ticket for "failure to display" a muni-meter receipt.
So, I thought it might be helpful to review the status of the three
muni-meter laws recently considered by the NYC Council.
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18. Canceling a parking ticket upon a showing of valid muni-
meter receipt to a warrior
Status: This Bill was passed by the NYC Council, vetoed by
Mayor Bloomberg, enacted into law overriding the Mayor's veto;
and is scheduled to go into effect 180 days from March 28,
2012. [Larry's note: effective date is September 24, 2012]. Yea!
The law provides in pertinent part:
"Any agent who issues a notice of violation by electronic means
for failure to pay the metered fare shall cancel such notice of
violation when, not later than five minutes after the issuance of
such notice, such agent is shown a valid muni-meter receipt
with an official start time stamp and such start time is no later
than five minutes after the time of the issuance of such notice.
The electronic copy of such canceled notice shall be marked
“valid muni-meter receipt shown; ticket canceled” and shall
include the number of such muni-meter receipt shown. The
electronic system used by the agent to issue such notice shall be
programmed to prohibit such notice from being canceled later
than five minutes after the issuance of such notice."
Parking violations issued for failure to display a muni-meter
receipt
Status: This Bill was passed by the NYC Council, approved by
Mayor Bloomberg, enacted into law on March 7, 2012; and is
effective immediately. Double yea!!
The law provides in pertinent part:
"Notwithstanding any rule or regulation to the contrary, but
subject to the provisions of the vehicle and traffic law, where a
notice of violation was issued to an owner or operator of a
vehicle for the failure to display a muni-meter receipt, it shall be
an affirmative defense to such violation that such owner or
operator purchased parking time for the time such notice of
violation was issued or up to five minutes thereafter from a
muni-meter dispensing timed receipts valid for use at the
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19. location such notice of violation was issued.
Evidence of the affirmative defense shall be the presentation, in
person or by mail, of a valid muni-meter receipt [with an official
start time stamp and such start time is no later than] for the
time such notice of violation was issued or for up to five minutes
[after the time of the issuance of such notice,] thereafter or
other suitable evidence as determined by the hearing officer
that such [a receipt] parking time was purchased [, shall be an
affirmative defense to such a violation]."
An affirmative defense means the burden of proof is on you and
I to present the proper proof, properly.
Allowing for transfer of muni-meter time
Status: This Bill was passed by the NYC Council, approved by
Mayor Bloomberg, and enacted into law (Mayor's desk for
signature). Yea x 3!
This law codified the "alleged" practice of the PVB leadership to
permit judges to dismiss all illegal parking tickets improperly
issued for transferring muni-meter time from one parking space
to another parking space, with certain provisos.
Commentary
I love these three new laws. One law providing relief for our
driving community is good...Two such laws are gooder...While
three laws are the goodest!
What are you going to do with all the money you save?
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20. Is it a pedestrian ramp or a legal curb cut?
Copy and paste this URL into your Browser
http://www.newyorkparkingticket.com/Blog/bid/33299/New-
York-Parking-Ticket-s-First-Movie!I received the following
comment on Larry’s Blog:
"Hi Larry,
Before I tell my story, I would like to thank you for this
very useful information.
My sister, who is living in CA, and I went to visit NYC
this thanksgiving and got TWO parking tickets at the
same location as the photo you shown above! (175
Claremont Ave, right?) The reason: blocking pedestrian
ramp....
I even saw policemen put ticket on my car. I tried to beg
off the second ticket, but it does not work. Also, they
seemed very sure that I parked at a wrong location!
However, at that time, I did not know it is legal.
I guessed that they either do not know the new rule or
they just thought I am from another state (I am living in
Boston) and may pay the ticket to avoid trouble.
I am glad my friend told me your website before I pay
the ticket. Now, I know I can save that $330. !(But our
trip was basically ruined after this event that is not
money can buy back....)
Posted @ Saturday, December 04, 2010 2:16 PM by
Hank"
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21. Screen captures showing the legal curb cut
21

22. You are welcome to a FREE download of an appeal New York
Parking Ticket LLC prepared for a client, including a statement
of the reasons to overturn the decision of the original judge, and
a complete package of screen captures illustrating the
pedestrian ramp is "legal." Copy and paste this link to obtain a
Free Download
http://www.newyorkparkingticket.com/dont-let-this-legal-
pedestrian-ramp-hurt-you/Default.aspx?utm_campaign=FREE-
Download-of-Appeal-&utm_source=Blog%20post
[Larry's Update on 2-25-11: WE WON THE
APPEAL...Yea! Parking ticket was dismissed]
22

23. Customer Success Story
A wonderful family visiting New York City for two weeks parked
their chariot for their final stop before heading home?
They received a NYC parking ticket and their vehicle was towed.
Here’s the story and the happy ending. The following are the
documents and exhibits New York Parking Ticket LLC prepared
to fight this evil orange epistle and WIN (Plus…towing charge
refunded)
DEFENSE AFFIDAVIT
New York City Department of Finance
Hearing by Mail Unit
Post Office Box 29021
Brooklyn, New York 11202-9021
VC 16
No Standing except trucks load/unload
MON-FRI/10A-4P
Dear Honorable Judge:
Drew Smith, of full age, being duly sworn, upon my oath, deposes
and says:
I plead not guilty to this parking violation
My wife and I loaded our mini-van, our children hopped aboard, and
we headed out from our home in Jones, Wisconsin for a 1000 mile/18
hour drive to NYC for a two-week family adventure.
The trip was uneventful. Our first time visit to NYC was absolutely
wonderful. We went sightseeing, hung out, and enjoyed the very
friendly people we met.
On Friday July 27, 2012 we loaded up our “truck” and began our drive
back to Jones, Wisconsin. At the behest of our children, we made
one last stop for ice cream at the Brooklyn pier. I dropped my wife
23

24. and children off at the pier, and drove around looking for a parking
space.
After cruising around for awhile, I came upon a vacant parking space
on the North side of Front Street, about 10-15 feet East of Main
Street (correctly entered on the parking ticket). It was the only vacant
space on an entire block filled with cars.
I got out of my vehicle and walked towards a yellow sign with a red
stop sign on it. There appeared to be a parking sign poll hiding
behind this yellow sign. I walked past the yellow sign and yes;
indeed, there was a poll with three signs attached.
I read each parking sign. Boy, was I confused. One sign said you
could park for two hours at 2:00 p.m. while another sign said parking
at 2:00 p.m. was for trucks. Since the entire long block was filled with
parked cars, this guy from Wisconsin thought parking must be
permitted. I paid for the time and secured my receipt.
When my family and I returned to our parking space on Front Street,
our “truck” was gone. I approached another couple talking to a police
officer asking why their car was missing. The officer explained that
all the cars were towed. Parking was not permitted.
After spending hours recovering our vehicle, we headed for home.
My wallet is considerably lighter because of my “mistake,” but I am
still scratching my head how anyone would understand, especially a
tourist, whether a parking sign saying yes trumps a parking sign
saying no. These parking signs are conflicting and confusing, and
obviously a trap for tourists and residents of NYC.
24

25. Due to these circumstances, please dismiss my parking ticket.
____________________________
Drew Smith
Sworn & Subscribed before
Me on this ________ day of
August 2012
______________________
Drew Smith
EXHIBITS IN SUPPORT OF MY DEFENSE
25

26. Exhibits(
Exhibit(#1(
This*is*a*Google*Map*street*view*search*result*page*for*the*corner*of*Front*Street*and*Main*
Street,*Brooklyn,*NY.**My*car*was*parked*on*Front*Street*about*10*feet*East*of*Main*Street*
*
*
*
*
*
#796298129(5*
26

27. Exhibits(
Exhibit'#2:'
This(is(the(Google(Map(view(of(the(corner(of(Front(and(Main(Street(looking(east(on(Front(Street(
(
(
796298129/5(
27

28. Exhibits(
Exhibit(#3(
This(is(the(Google(Map(view(further(east(on(Front(Street.(The(blue(car(in(the(Google(image(is(
where(my(car(was(parked(on(the(day(of(my(ticket(and(tow.(
(
(
796298129/5(
28

29. Exhibits(
Exhibit'#4'
This(is(a(Google(Map(view(remarkably(similar(to(how(Front(Street(looked(on(the(day(of(my(
parking(ticket(and(tow.(The(entire(block(was(lined(with(parked(cars,(and(a(tow(truck(was(
towing(cars(away.((This(Exhibit(is(offered(to(demonstrate(how(confusing(the(parking(signs(are(
on(the(block.((Four(signs(on(one(pole,(with(one(sign(saying(parking(is(permitted(and(another(
sign(saying(what?((The(Blue(car(is(being(towed(from(my(exact(parking(space.((
(
(
(
796298129/5(
29

30. Exhibits(
Exhibit'#5'
'
I(took(this(photograph(from(the(parking(space(that(had(been(
occupied(by(my(“truck.”(I(aimed(my(camera(down(the(block(in(
an(easterly(direction.(The(3(parking(signs(on(one(pole(are(
barely(visible.((
(
(
'
'
796298129/5(
30

31. Exhibits(
Exhibit'#6'
(
This(is(the(confusing,(conflicting(parking(sign(regulating(my(
parking(space(when(my(vehicle(was(towed.((The(top(sign(
says…while(the(bottom(sign(permits(two(hour(parking.((
(
(
796298129/5(
31

32. Exhibit #7:
Photograph of vehicle registration
No image available for privacy
reasons
32

33. Exhibit'#8'
Exhibit'#8'
'
This'is'a'copy'of'my'muni'meter'receipt'showing'I'paid'for'the'
time'to'park.''My'ticket'was'issued'at'2:06'P.M.''My'muni'meter'
receipt'shows'I'paid'for'the'time'at'2:01'P.M.'and'my'“truck”'
was'towed'5'minutes'later''(at'2:06'P.M.)'
'
'
796298129/5'
33

34. Resources!
• New York Parking Ticket Website
http://www.newyorkparkingticket.com
• Matthew Weiss, Esquire of Weiss and Associates, P.C.: A
wonderful friend and colleague who knows everything
about fighting NYC traffic
tickets !http://www.nytrafficticket.com/?hsCtaTracking=d
205847b-98ac-46e2-b1ae- 7bcd477f9ef7|d541bd72-2a1f-
4be1-8e45- 6f041b605532
• Margot Tohn from PARK IT! GUIDES: A super guru on the
subject of garage parking in NYC. She will save you
beaucoup d’argent and help you find the best off-street
parking at the right prices !http://parkitnyc.com/nyc-
monthly- parking/?hsCtaTracking=ea387e51-1eb1-435b-
a98d-763327301248|b5850aea-e3aa-4865-a556-
c8ab59506107
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35. “When you’re right-FIGHT!”
New York Parking Ticket LLC
www.newyorkparkingticket.com
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