List Alert: Beating Those Pesky Parking Tickets

This week marks the start of the 5-minute grace period on muni meters, and in the aftermath of the taxi scandal and the unrelenting nature of subway douchery , some New Yorkers might be thinking of getting their cars out of storage early this year. However, since Mayor Bloomberg took office there’s been a 45 percent increase in traffic-enforcement agents and a 64 percent spike in parking fees, so you're likely to run into one while visiting your grandparents at their retirement home. Thankfully, there are some easy ways to avoid lovely Rita's wrath.

NY mag has some helpful hints in this week's issue on beating the orange ticket, including iPhone apps to guide you to busted meters, an interview with a meter maid (don't bother leaving a note on the dash), and tips on appealing tickets. To summarize: look for any errors on the tickets, always plead "not guilty" (and you'll likely get reduced ticket), and if you think the meter maid made a mistake, get proof (i.e., take a picture of that broken meter).

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Ben Yakas in News on March 22, 2010 5:10 PM

Comments [rss]

ur doing it rong

ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS plea not guilty. I get a reduction every time and have always been in the wrong. I don't think they even look at them, my guess is it's a way to save clerical work. Time is money. They will send you a reduced offer, or you can opt to continue your fight. Don't waste your time, I've put alot of effort into fighting tickets, pictures, diagrams, etc, and have never won.

Boogie Down

What is the problem? Non-metered spots clearly state the hours in which you're allowed to park at the site. Meters clearly tell you how many minutes you have remaining. I'm a driver, but have no sympathy for these crybabies who complain when they get ticketed. I have never received a parking ticket in this city. Then again, I never take my car to Manhattan unless it's for the purpose of passing through to Queens or Brooklyn (which is rare). The subway is a far better option for most inter-borough travel.

handsomedevil

Yeah, I drive too (including, sometimes, into Manhattan) and I basically agree. BUT

The one thing that I think is a "gotcha" is when alternate side has just started and you are actually walking to your car and you see the TEA agent writing the ticket. The street cleaner's nowhere in sight, you are still trying to get out of the way, and bam. That sucks.

This would also protect you from getting a ticket while you are walking to the muni-meter and back or stupid shit like that.

etypical

Meter maids can read?

hunter.blatherer

I can't wait for all the chaos to start. It'll make the Avenue A melee look like the bike lane clowns.

Also, I'm glad we have a mayor with a gift for understatement.