Sadly, too many NYC drivers are clueless when it comes to NYC parking rules. Probably, that's how Bloomie Hall and Boss Mikey were able to rake in $578 million in 2005 and $557 million in 2004. From parking tickets, 9.5 million in 2005 and 10 million in 2004.
Source: NY1 "NYPD Issued Fewer Parking Tickets In 2005 Than Previous Year"
Too many NYC drivers learn how to park legally in NYC through trial-and-error. Or rather trial-and-ticket. So, how do you rate? Here's a pop quiz. Ready?
1. "No Standing" zone. What can you do in a "No Standing" zone? What can you not do?
2. "No Stopping" zone. What can you do in a "No Stopping" zone? What can you not do?
3. "No Parking" zone. What can you do in a "No Parking" zone? What can you not do?
4. Fire hydrants. How far away does your car have to be from a fire hydrant? What if it's a busted hydrant?
5. Parking or standing is not allowed in front of a ____________ .
6. Parking or standing is not allowed within ______ feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.
7. Parking or standing is not allowed within ______ feet of traffic light or "STOP" sign or "YIELD" sign.
8. Parking or standing is not allowed within ______ feet of a fire station driveway or within ______ feet on the opposite side of the road.
9. Parking or standing is not allowed along a curb that has a _____________________ .
10. A bus stop is a "No Standing" zone. Where does this specific "No Standing" zone start and end? Can you in your private vehicle pick up and drop off passengers at a bus stop?
Sources: The NYC DOT and the NYS DMV Driver's Manual and "Got Tickets? Your Guide to Parking Ticket Hearings"
Look for the answers in the next posting.
Monday, April 9, 2007
4/9/07--The PTF Record Updated
Another PTF battle record update. As of 4/9/07, lost 1, won 6, all 7 fought at in-person hearings.
Today, Mon., April 9, 2007, went back to the Staten Island Business Center for the 3rd time to fight two more of the exact same BS violations. Code 62, parked "beyond marked space."
Both tickets claim my Honda Pilot was parked illegally "in front of 1 Richmond Terrace." That's the entrance to the Staten Island Ferry, on the S.I. side. It's impossible to violate code 62 since there are no markings which indicate where you can park. The entrance to the S.I. Ferry is a "No Parking," "No Standing," "No Stopping" zone. Almost anyone who lives on S.I. would know this.
Anyway, I ended up with the same Nazi parking ticket judge, ALJ Parnes. He dismissed both tickets. He claimed both had illegible plate numbers written on the tickets. Which was true.
However, I think he dismissed both for illegibility because he didn't want to be forced to admit he had made an error in judgement when I was there the first time. The first time I was there he found me guilty of violating code 62 "in front of 1 Richmond Terrace." Which was impossible.
That first "1 Richmond Terrace" ticket I did appeal. And the NYC DOF Appeals Board reversed it. (As of 4/9/07, I still haven't received my refund. Damn it! Give me back my money. You thieves.)
Lesson learned: The due process for parking tickets in NYC "works" if you appeal after you're found guilty. If you do not appeal, then the whole system is 100% setup against you.
The PTF: "Can you say Nazi judge? Nazi Germany?"
See the classic 1961 movie Judgment at Nuremberg starring Spencer Tracy. The movie is about the trial of certain judges who executed Nazi law.
Today, Mon., April 9, 2007, went back to the Staten Island Business Center for the 3rd time to fight two more of the exact same BS violations. Code 62, parked "beyond marked space."
Both tickets claim my Honda Pilot was parked illegally "in front of 1 Richmond Terrace." That's the entrance to the Staten Island Ferry, on the S.I. side. It's impossible to violate code 62 since there are no markings which indicate where you can park. The entrance to the S.I. Ferry is a "No Parking," "No Standing," "No Stopping" zone. Almost anyone who lives on S.I. would know this.
Anyway, I ended up with the same Nazi parking ticket judge, ALJ Parnes. He dismissed both tickets. He claimed both had illegible plate numbers written on the tickets. Which was true.
However, I think he dismissed both for illegibility because he didn't want to be forced to admit he had made an error in judgement when I was there the first time. The first time I was there he found me guilty of violating code 62 "in front of 1 Richmond Terrace." Which was impossible.
That first "1 Richmond Terrace" ticket I did appeal. And the NYC DOF Appeals Board reversed it. (As of 4/9/07, I still haven't received my refund. Damn it! Give me back my money. You thieves.)
Lesson learned: The due process for parking tickets in NYC "works" if you appeal after you're found guilty. If you do not appeal, then the whole system is 100% setup against you.
The PTF: "Can you say Nazi judge? Nazi Germany?"
See the classic 1961 movie Judgment at Nuremberg starring Spencer Tracy. The movie is about the trial of certain judges who executed Nazi law.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
The PTF Battle Record Update
After parking my Honda Pilot in the driveway, guess what was in my mailbox? A letter from the Appeals Unit of the NYC Dept. of Finance.
I had totally forgotten about the appeal I had mailed out on March 12, 2007. Which I received on March 31, 2007. I think, relatively, quick for the government of NYC.
Anyway, the Appeals Unit upheld ticket # 1127301196. But reversed the other two tickets, # 1120906982 & # 1120914980. So, I should eventually be refunded a total of $90 to the same credit card I had used to pay all three tickets. As of 3/31/07, I had not been refunded.
Here's a breakdown of all my tickets that were in the NYC Dept. of Finance's system and that I fought.
Total tickets fought: 5
Total amount if paid without disputing: $275
Total amount dismissed by the summons clerk: $55
Note: The summons clerk is the person you see, after you request to dispute your ticket(s), but before you see the parking ticket judge (i.e., an ALJ or Administrative Law Judge). The summons clerk checks for technical errors and dismisses tickets with technical erros. And offers to settle out of court (i.e., a reduced fine) with you for tickets he or she finds to be technically correctly.
Total tickets judged "not guilty": 1
ALJ Mitchell H. Parnes claimed that the registration expiration date for this one was illegible. Therefore, he dismissed it. Even though the summons clerk found no technical errors for this one. So, what's up with that? I'll explain in a later post.
Total tickets judged "guilty": 3
Total amount for "guilty" tickets: $155
Total tickets appealed: 3
Total tickets the Appeals Board upheld: 1
Total tickets the Appeals Board reversed: 2
Total amount of expected refund: $90
Lost: 1, won: 4
The one I lost on appeal I claim to be a mockery of the law. But, anyway, I am surprised how well I did. For someone who is not a lawyer. By the way, you don't have to be a lawyer. Although a knowledge of the law is a big plus, of course.
Unfortunately. There are two more parking tickets that have yet to show up in the NYC DOF's system. So, the fight, the battle, the war never ends. Stay tuned.
I had totally forgotten about the appeal I had mailed out on March 12, 2007. Which I received on March 31, 2007. I think, relatively, quick for the government of NYC.
Anyway, the Appeals Unit upheld ticket # 1127301196. But reversed the other two tickets, # 1120906982 & # 1120914980. So, I should eventually be refunded a total of $90 to the same credit card I had used to pay all three tickets. As of 3/31/07, I had not been refunded.
Here's a breakdown of all my tickets that were in the NYC Dept. of Finance's system and that I fought.
Total tickets fought: 5
Total amount if paid without disputing: $275
Total amount dismissed by the summons clerk: $55
Note: The summons clerk is the person you see, after you request to dispute your ticket(s), but before you see the parking ticket judge (i.e., an ALJ or Administrative Law Judge). The summons clerk checks for technical errors and dismisses tickets with technical erros. And offers to settle out of court (i.e., a reduced fine) with you for tickets he or she finds to be technically correctly.
Total tickets judged "not guilty": 1
ALJ Mitchell H. Parnes claimed that the registration expiration date for this one was illegible. Therefore, he dismissed it. Even though the summons clerk found no technical errors for this one. So, what's up with that? I'll explain in a later post.
Total tickets judged "guilty": 3
Total amount for "guilty" tickets: $155
Total tickets appealed: 3
Total tickets the Appeals Board upheld: 1
Total tickets the Appeals Board reversed: 2
Total amount of expected refund: $90
Lost: 1, won: 4
The one I lost on appeal I claim to be a mockery of the law. But, anyway, I am surprised how well I did. For someone who is not a lawyer. By the way, you don't have to be a lawyer. Although a knowledge of the law is a big plus, of course.
Unfortunately. There are two more parking tickets that have yet to show up in the NYC DOF's system. So, the fight, the battle, the war never ends. Stay tuned.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
A Tale of Three Tickets, Part III
Finally, after waiting for four weeks, DA's "Hidden Pedestrian Ramp" story aired Tues., March 13, 2007, in the 10pm edition of Fox 5 News.
See DA in "Shame, Shame, Shame: Pedestrian Ramps" by Arnold Diaz, Fox 5 News.
[Technical Note: You need Macromedia Flash Player 8 to play the video. And a broadband connection.]
The "Shame, Shame, Shame" segment was super. I loved it. I was pleasantly surprised by the induction of the NYC Dept. of Transportation into "The Hall of Shame." It was the cherry on top of the sundae.
I'm still puzzled by the NYC DOT's refusal to acknowledge any wrong-doing. And NYC gov.'s refusal to reverse DA's guilty decision. PR-wise, it only makes NYC gov. look like a bunch of thieves and con artists. (Which they are. I and every other NY-er with, at least, half a brain think so.)
The PTF: "Thank you! Arnold Diaz and Fox 5 News."
Sadly, DA was found guilty of "blocking a pedestrian ramp." He consulted with a lawyer friend. And he was advised to pay the $195 balance (the $165 fine plus a $30 penalty). Which he did that same Tues. when his segment aired.
His lawyer friend didn't want NYC gov.'s lawyers to accuse DA of being a scofflaw by DA's refusal to pay it after (an unusually quick) guilty decision. Which would have made DA's planned lawsuit against NYC gov. weaker. (Made sense to me.)
DA's fight against City Hall ain't over by a long shot. To be continued.
See DA in "Shame, Shame, Shame: Pedestrian Ramps" by Arnold Diaz, Fox 5 News.
[Technical Note: You need Macromedia Flash Player 8 to play the video. And a broadband connection.]
The "Shame, Shame, Shame" segment was super. I loved it. I was pleasantly surprised by the induction of the NYC Dept. of Transportation into "The Hall of Shame." It was the cherry on top of the sundae.
I'm still puzzled by the NYC DOT's refusal to acknowledge any wrong-doing. And NYC gov.'s refusal to reverse DA's guilty decision. PR-wise, it only makes NYC gov. look like a bunch of thieves and con artists. (Which they are. I and every other NY-er with, at least, half a brain think so.)
The PTF: "Thank you! Arnold Diaz and Fox 5 News."
Sadly, DA was found guilty of "blocking a pedestrian ramp." He consulted with a lawyer friend. And he was advised to pay the $195 balance (the $165 fine plus a $30 penalty). Which he did that same Tues. when his segment aired.
His lawyer friend didn't want NYC gov.'s lawyers to accuse DA of being a scofflaw by DA's refusal to pay it after (an unusually quick) guilty decision. Which would have made DA's planned lawsuit against NYC gov. weaker. (Made sense to me.)
DA's fight against City Hall ain't over by a long shot. To be continued.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
A Tale of Two Tickets, Part II
Sadly, now "A Tale of Three Tickets, Part II"
DA got another ticket, his third parking ticket, an expired meter ticket.
Now, an update on DA's "hidden pedestrian ramp ticket" segment with Arnold Diaz.
According to an e-mail from AD. DA's hidden ramp story will air on Fox 5 News, Ch. 5, 10PM edition, on Tues., March 13, 2007. Another "Shame Shame Shame" segment with AD.
Hopefully, someone from my day job will be able to tape it for me. I've asked everyone I know from my day job who has cable TV or DirecTV to make a copy for me. I'm poor. I only have free TV at my home.
Also, about four weeks ago, I filled out an online defense for DA's hidden pedestrian ramp ticket. Not surprisingly, some incompetent parking ticket judge quickly found him guilty.
These parking ticket judges don't seem to know how to use Google Maps (maps.google.com) or know how to read a map. Or even have any maps on hand.
Of course, you, the defendant have to do all the work. Take dozens of photos. Photocopy maps. Draw a diagram. And send in a DVD with a DVD-player, of course.
The PTF: "Yo, judge. Learn how to read a $#%&@ map!"
To be continued in "A Tale of Three Tickets, Part III"
DA got another ticket, his third parking ticket, an expired meter ticket.
Now, an update on DA's "hidden pedestrian ramp ticket" segment with Arnold Diaz.
According to an e-mail from AD. DA's hidden ramp story will air on Fox 5 News, Ch. 5, 10PM edition, on Tues., March 13, 2007. Another "Shame Shame Shame" segment with AD.
Hopefully, someone from my day job will be able to tape it for me. I've asked everyone I know from my day job who has cable TV or DirecTV to make a copy for me. I'm poor. I only have free TV at my home.
Also, about four weeks ago, I filled out an online defense for DA's hidden pedestrian ramp ticket. Not surprisingly, some incompetent parking ticket judge quickly found him guilty.
These parking ticket judges don't seem to know how to use Google Maps (maps.google.com) or know how to read a map. Or even have any maps on hand.
Of course, you, the defendant have to do all the work. Take dozens of photos. Photocopy maps. Draw a diagram. And send in a DVD with a DVD-player, of course.
The PTF: "Yo, judge. Learn how to read a $#%&@ map!"
To be continued in "A Tale of Three Tickets, Part III"
Covert Parking Tix Surge on S.I.
About two weeks ago, around 9pm, I was walking from the S.I. Mall to my parent's house on xxxx Loop. When I got to the Loop, I saw a NYPD cruiser ticket a 1950's-style hot rod. Neither officer got out of their cruiser, placed the ticket through their opened car window.
After the cruiser left the loop, I looked at the ticket. Expired inspection sticker. The hot rod's inspection sticker was a few months past. Not odd.
But what was odd was that I saw that cop cruiser in the Loop at all. And the time, late evening, around 9pm. I've lived on xxxx Loop since the mid 80's. I've never seen anyone get a parking ticket in the Loop before. Neither have I or my father. Nor a neighbor before.
I mean that's one of the benefits of living in this mostly white middle-class neighborhood. At least, used to be, anyway. Not having to worry about traffic agents or police officers coming around your neighborhood. Trying to fill their parking ticket quotas for the day.
Then, at my day job, a co-worker who lives on S.I., told me he got a ticket for double parking in his residential area. Happened about 2 months ago. Again, mostly white middle-class. He had double-parked before often. Never got a ticket before.
At least, S.I. residents who live in the mostly white middle-class neighborhoods don't have to deal with daily visits from traffic agents and police. Looking to fill their daily quotas.
I'll take bit-by-bit covert ticketing over daily harassment, any day. I wouldn't want to own a car in any of NYC's low income minority neighborhoods. Or mostly immigrant neighborhoods.
The neighborhood, where my parents' business is located, Bushwick, Brooklyn, is predominantly Hispanic and low-income. There is a constant cat-and-mouse game played by residents and traffic agents and police officers. And, of course, the usual monthly parking tix blitz.
In the last tix blitz, my father got a completely bogus ticket for having a thin plastic frame around his license plate. Allegedly, obscuring his plate number. I didn't know that many of our police officers and traffic agents had such poor eye sight. Any thin plastic frame around any plate completely makes the plate # impossible for them to read.
The PTF: "Eat more carrots! You blind bats."
P.S. A parking tip for my fellow S.I. residents. Take off that frame on your plate. Do it now!
After the cruiser left the loop, I looked at the ticket. Expired inspection sticker. The hot rod's inspection sticker was a few months past. Not odd.
But what was odd was that I saw that cop cruiser in the Loop at all. And the time, late evening, around 9pm. I've lived on xxxx Loop since the mid 80's. I've never seen anyone get a parking ticket in the Loop before. Neither have I or my father. Nor a neighbor before.
I mean that's one of the benefits of living in this mostly white middle-class neighborhood. At least, used to be, anyway. Not having to worry about traffic agents or police officers coming around your neighborhood. Trying to fill their parking ticket quotas for the day.
Then, at my day job, a co-worker who lives on S.I., told me he got a ticket for double parking in his residential area. Happened about 2 months ago. Again, mostly white middle-class. He had double-parked before often. Never got a ticket before.
At least, S.I. residents who live in the mostly white middle-class neighborhoods don't have to deal with daily visits from traffic agents and police. Looking to fill their daily quotas.
I'll take bit-by-bit covert ticketing over daily harassment, any day. I wouldn't want to own a car in any of NYC's low income minority neighborhoods. Or mostly immigrant neighborhoods.
The neighborhood, where my parents' business is located, Bushwick, Brooklyn, is predominantly Hispanic and low-income. There is a constant cat-and-mouse game played by residents and traffic agents and police officers. And, of course, the usual monthly parking tix blitz.
In the last tix blitz, my father got a completely bogus ticket for having a thin plastic frame around his license plate. Allegedly, obscuring his plate number. I didn't know that many of our police officers and traffic agents had such poor eye sight. Any thin plastic frame around any plate completely makes the plate # impossible for them to read.
The PTF: "Eat more carrots! You blind bats."
P.S. A parking tip for my fellow S.I. residents. Take off that frame on your plate. Do it now!
Thursday, February 1, 2007
A Tale of Two Tickets, Part I
A co-worker of mine at my current F/T day job got a $165 parking ticket for blocking a pedestrian ramp in Dec., last year, 2006. Then, in Jan., this year 2007, he got a $115 ticket for double parking.
Lets call him DA, his initials. He originally hails from Haiti. He speaks fluent French and English. But is not familiar with the American legal system. He's a regular working man. Not rich, but not poor either.
But what regular working stiff has $290 to blow on two parking tickets? The $165 fine + a $10 (late response) penalty + the $115 = $290 total.
He wanted to pay them. But didn't have the cash. Therefore, the $10 penalty for the first ticket, the $165 one.
The $165 ticket was for blocking a pedestrian ramp.
On Dec. 18, 2006, at night, he parked his Honda sedan in front of 525 Empire Blvd., Brooklyn. At mid-block, without any crosswalk or a traffic light. Then, in the morning, Dec. 19, 2006, he found a computerized parking ticket under his wiper. For blocking a pedestrian ramp.
But why would the NYC Dept. of Transportation build a pedestrian ramp in the middle of the block without a crosswalk or a stop light? What mom with a baby stroller or a person in a wheelchair would attempt to cross a street at the middle without either a crosswalk or a stop light?
After a search on the Web, the answer was disturbing. (Source: the newspaper of the politics of driving, www.thenewspaper.com) In 2005, Arnold Diaz exposed the creation of hidden ramp ticket traps. The NYC Dept. of Transportation was installing pedestrian ramps in the middle of the block without any paint to mark the ramp. And without painting a crosswalk or installing a stop light.
Innocent drivers couldn't see them. But the traffic agents knew where the hidden ramps were. If you were lucky, you only got a $165 ticket. If you were unlucky, you got a $165 ticket. Plus, your auto was towed away. For which, a $185 tow fee was added to your $165 ticket.
I was angry to realize that DA was a victim of a ticket trap set by the government of NYC. The people we expect to enforce the law. Not abuse the law for its own profit. What the $%#&! is going on here?
So, I e-mailed Arnold Diaz, now at Fox 5 News, about DA's hidden ramp ticket. He responded the same day. After a few days of trying to contact DA. I was able to connect DA with AD.
DA wanted to pay the hidden ramp ticket. But I told him that doing so would mean that he would be admitting guilt. When, in fact, he was obviously not guilty. Only a victim.
Currently, DA is working with AD to tell his story of entrapment. Stay tuned.
To be continuted in "A Tale of Two Tickets, Part II"
Lets call him DA, his initials. He originally hails from Haiti. He speaks fluent French and English. But is not familiar with the American legal system. He's a regular working man. Not rich, but not poor either.
But what regular working stiff has $290 to blow on two parking tickets? The $165 fine + a $10 (late response) penalty + the $115 = $290 total.
He wanted to pay them. But didn't have the cash. Therefore, the $10 penalty for the first ticket, the $165 one.
The $165 ticket was for blocking a pedestrian ramp.
On Dec. 18, 2006, at night, he parked his Honda sedan in front of 525 Empire Blvd., Brooklyn. At mid-block, without any crosswalk or a traffic light. Then, in the morning, Dec. 19, 2006, he found a computerized parking ticket under his wiper. For blocking a pedestrian ramp.
But why would the NYC Dept. of Transportation build a pedestrian ramp in the middle of the block without a crosswalk or a stop light? What mom with a baby stroller or a person in a wheelchair would attempt to cross a street at the middle without either a crosswalk or a stop light?
After a search on the Web, the answer was disturbing. (Source: the newspaper of the politics of driving, www.thenewspaper.com) In 2005, Arnold Diaz exposed the creation of hidden ramp ticket traps. The NYC Dept. of Transportation was installing pedestrian ramps in the middle of the block without any paint to mark the ramp. And without painting a crosswalk or installing a stop light.
Innocent drivers couldn't see them. But the traffic agents knew where the hidden ramps were. If you were lucky, you only got a $165 ticket. If you were unlucky, you got a $165 ticket. Plus, your auto was towed away. For which, a $185 tow fee was added to your $165 ticket.
I was angry to realize that DA was a victim of a ticket trap set by the government of NYC. The people we expect to enforce the law. Not abuse the law for its own profit. What the $%#&! is going on here?
So, I e-mailed Arnold Diaz, now at Fox 5 News, about DA's hidden ramp ticket. He responded the same day. After a few days of trying to contact DA. I was able to connect DA with AD.
DA wanted to pay the hidden ramp ticket. But I told him that doing so would mean that he would be admitting guilt. When, in fact, he was obviously not guilty. Only a victim.
Currently, DA is working with AD to tell his story of entrapment. Stay tuned.
To be continuted in "A Tale of Two Tickets, Part II"
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