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March 27, 2009
Ticketed for Double Parking
Hello. On my Carroll Gardens block, people regularly double park during street cleaning hours. Twice, however, I have ticketed for double parking. However, my car has been the only one to receive a ticket! I realize that the practice is illegal, but has been tolerated by the precincts, but if the police are now enforcing the rule, why not ticket all the offenders? I am curious to know if any of Brownstoner's readers have also been the victim of this selective enforcement and, if so, has anyone successfully fought the ticket?
Comments
Yeah. I got one. I went inside to get some paper towels and windex on a Saturday so I could get the snow and mud off my windshield -- for 1 minute -- and I got one. On a quiet Ft. Greene st. I couldn't believe how I flipped out at the cops -- "Go to Fulton St! Go to Flatbush avenue!, Go to Myrtle! - have a $5,000 dollar day! And if you are going to give me a ticket, hurry up because I have somewhere to go." They must have been told to ticket everyone. Finally, one of the cops told me I was being selfish -- and you are NUTS, I fired back. Amazing I wasn't arrested. But that is one expensive ticket.
Posted by: donatella at March 26, 2009 5:13 PM
That's very strange, Do you post your address or phone number on your dashboard when you double park or otherwise remain available should someone you've "parked in" need to move? If not, perhaps someone complained.
IMO the informal tolerance of double-parking during street-cleaning hours is one of the most civilized things about living in Brooklyn, but you still have to be considerate of others.
If you HAVE been considerate and still been ticketed, I'm at a loss to explain it.s
Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 26, 2009 5:15 PM
Are you sure the ticket was for double parking and not some other infraction, expired registration, expired inspection, broken taillight etc...?
This seems highly unlikely, if they were going to ticket people for revenue, they would hit everyone on the block.
Posted by: SJ at March 26, 2009 5:27 PM
I wish they would ticket people for not leaving information on their windshield!!
I live on what is otherwise a great block, but getting people to leave contact information when double parking is impossible.
in my 30+ years of alternate side parking experience in Brooklyn, the police will not ticket. (school streets are an exception)
There was the time when a neighbor repeatedly shouted racial slurs at the traffic cop - then for about 2 months everyone got ticketed! -- Maybe that's what it takes to get my car out from being blocked in . . .
Posted by: SenatorStreet at March 26, 2009 5:43 PM
The traffic enforcement agent more than likely ticketed your car alone because you blocked someone in who called to complain. The callers/complainers rarely stick around to confront the offending party.
Posted by: Chosen at March 26, 2009 5:49 PM
When someone phoned the cops about being "parked in" on our block, everyone who was double-parked got a ticket. The cop said that's the law because once their attention is called to it, technically, everyone is breaking the same law.
However, if you're on a block w/ a bike lane, it could also be that yours is the only car with a tire on the line - that happened here too. The second time the owner saw the agent & asked & he told her that not even an inch of tire can encroach on the paint of the bike lane.
Posted by: Arkady at March 26, 2009 6:25 PM
The law is not to double park. There is no fast and hard rule on whether to issue a summons or not. NYPD officers have discretion and can use it at will in these circumstances unless they were given specific orders. As far as traffic agents are concerned, they are more likely to issue summones to everyone, as that is the main focus of their job. A cop could easily explain not ticketing all of the cars, if the owner of the lone car ticketed decided to fight it in court. The cops excuse is "I got a call."
Posted by: Chosen at March 26, 2009 7:16 PM
I own a Plumbing and Heating Service Company and we need to Double Park in the area daily in order to get any work done. We've received many tickets for Double Parking during street cleaning hours when everyone on the block was Double Parked. We were the only vehicles to receive the tickets and I was puzzled. I fight every ticket as a Commercial vehicle and tried to use the defense that "everyone was doing it". I was told, in no uncertain terms, DOUBLE PARKING IS ILLEGAL no matter when or why it's done. It is at the ticketing officer's discretion on who to ticket. I guess it just depends on their mood on that day. As for leaving a note on you car, it may not help with a ticket, but it will help to make peace with your neighbors.
Posted by: Brooklyn Plumber at March 27, 2009 7:37 AM
For what its worth, if you send a letter to:
NYC Department of Finance
Hearing By Mail Unit
PO Box 29021
Brooklyn, NY 11202
They will always reduce the ticket.
Posted by: jasetheace at March 27, 2009 9:17 AM
you didnt help your situation by flipping out on them. that could backfire in that they'd then starting gunning for your car specifically (or your street, thus ruining it for your neighbors). i always put on a smile, say good morning, and make a little idle chitchat, and theyve often been nice back and i've avoided tix.
Posted by: goldie at March 27, 2009 10:07 AM
The city needs money, it's probably just that simple. They got the word to go out and raise it. We have that upstate ALL THE TIME at the end of the month when quotas are due. Face it. The government needs money and they trick you into thinking the only tax you pay is income tax. So they lower that and then stick it to you with fines, licensing fees, 911 fees on your phone bill, tolls, etc. It's only going to get worse especially in neighborhoods with affluent people.
Posted by: Iknow at March 27, 2009 10:22 AM
a few years ago after waiting patiently for 15 minutes for some asshole whose car was blocking mine i removed the north carolina tag which left the offending vehicle with no tags as north carolina requires back tags only. i then called the local precinct and reported a double parked with no tags. i was giddy with excitement as i watched it being towed away.
Posted by: 11214 at March 27, 2009 10:58 AM
If your car is still double-parked after the street cleaning
time limit, 8:30am to 10:00am, then the agents will come back and ticket your car... 10:05am and you're toast.
Posted by: bren at March 27, 2009 11:13 AM
11214 - You're evil! But... speaking of North Carolina tags and Pennsylvania tags... it's the LAW that folks that live in NY are licensed and registered in NY, but a typical street in Brooklyn has 30% or more non-NY plates... mostly PA it seems.
There's gotta be a way to deal with that. I just got my registration renewal notice. Thinking of trying our Pennsylvania instead. Seems like the thing to do!
Posted by: tybur6 at March 27, 2009 11:19 AM
Tybur6 - These NC and PA drivers are commiting insurance fraud. Registering and insuring your car to a state/zip code and living in another is illegal. Don't get wrapped up in their mess!
Posted by: StuyIvy at March 27, 2009 11:52 AM
jasetheace, good idea, but mailing isn't enough. Go down to 210 Joralemon Street and have a hearing in person. You've got a better chance at reduction if you can discuss your defense directly face to face.
Posted by: Brooklyn Plumber at March 27, 2009 12:12 PM
If you are double parked, it is illegal. It's as simple as that. Other people who are double parked are also breaking the law, but if they don't get a ticket and you do, it's just your bad luck.
It's exactly the same as driving over the speed limit on the freeway. Most people do it, but only a few people get stopped and get a ticket. That doesn't mean they aren't all breaking the law. And it doesn't mean you don't deserve the ticket and shouldn't pay the fine.
Posted by: kimmc at March 27, 2009 1:07 PM
tybur > go for it. i have a NYS drivers license but register the car to a massachusetts address (my 'rents). i park in cobble hill %100 of the time and save about $600 a year on insurance. even got towed a couple of times over the years > never any hassles at the navy yard when they see my dual-state reg. so eff it!
Posted by: bowl of dicks at March 27, 2009 1:13 PM
Just get a handicapped parking permit. I finally got one after two years of arguing with the DOT and... magic! no more parking tickets, ever. They are a PITA to get, but worth more than their weight in gold.
Posted by: brooklynstyle at March 27, 2009 3:24 PM
I have a driveway so I don't have to feed the city coffers in that aspect.
Posted by: Xander Crews at March 27, 2009 3:34 PM
Is there a school on your block? If there is you will get a ticket.
Posted by: witchdoctor at March 27, 2009 4:11 PM
I always put a " contact" note in the windshield when I double park, so I don't block anyone in.
Double parking on side streets ( except with a school or Fire Station) has been going on for ever. Since tickets are usually not issued, wouldn't that make it a defacto legal practice.
Posted by: ParkSlopePS at March 27, 2009 4:13 PM
hey bowl of dicks, people like you (insurance fraudsters) are the reason everyone else has to pay higher car insurance premiums here in nyc.
if your car is involved in an accident, and especially if someone else comes after you for injury damages or medical bills caused by your vehicle, don't be surprised if your insurance company finds out that you've been lying about where the car is normally kept.
nothing personal and sorry to be judgmental but i despise people like you because everyone else has to pay more to cover the costs of doing business - thanks to a big percentage of the population that lies and cheats.
Posted by: appoggiatura at March 27, 2009 5:06 PM
^^^ ZZZZZZ! insurance premiums in nyc are so high mostly because of enormous numbers of theft/damage claims. Appoggiatura, if it makes you feel any better, the money I save in insurance premiums goes directly towards parking garage rent (so that said fraudulent vehicle doesn't get jacked or keyed!)
Posted by: bowl of dicks at March 27, 2009 6:52 PM
But appogglatura's warning is very relevant. You may think you are saving money, but insurance companies will do anything to avoid paying a claim and you've given them an easy way out. So be forewarned that you could be in debt thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars if you have an accident and/or injure someone with your car. The bigger the claim, the more likely it is that the insurance company will do the extra investigation to avoid paying it. Like health insurance, home insurance, etc. people think they're covered fine until they actually have to use it. You can always fight the insurance companies when they try something unethical, but if the policy was written under fraudulent conditions, you will be so out of luck.
Posted by: CGfan at March 28, 2009 9:54 AM
If you get a handicapped permit and you don't need it, you are the lowest of the low. You better hope there is no such thing as karma.
Posted by: Bond at March 29, 2009 12:17 PM
Just got a double parking ticket myself. Usually cops in the neighborhood are lax about it since it's brooklyn and hard to find parking, but this particular traffic enforcement cop is known to be a d!*k. I'm afraid there's not much we can do. But this site may help cheer you up:
http://jimmyjustice4753.blogspot.com/
Posted by: zero at July 9, 2009 3:33 PM
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