Driving and parking is a big aspect of NYC life, and if you’ve ever received a parking ticket ,you know how much of a hassle it is. With over 16 million tickets handed out in 2024 alone, finding the infamous orange note under your windshield has become a popular experience for many New Yorkers.
While sometimes you may be in the wrong, other times you may have wrongfully been written a ticket…and there’s something you can do about it. In this guide, we discuss the process of disputing an NYC parking ticket, and why it’s important to take swift action before it can affect your financials, assets, and driving record.
Understand the ticket you received
Did you wrongfully receive a parking ticket? Or maybe not even sure what the ticket is for? It’s important to start your dispute process by understanding the ticket you received in the first place.
There are many NYC violation codes and fines that are possible to receive (which can be found online), with each fine also including a $15 New York State Criminal Justice surcharge.
Get familiar with common violations and fines that you may be facing:
- Under Code 20: parked in a General No Parking area where parking is not allowed by sign, street marking, or traffic control device ($60-$65)
- Under Code 27: parked in a zone reserved for people with disabilities ($180)
- Under Code 37: parked in excess of the allowed time on the parking meter ($35-$65)
- Under Code 40: stopped, standing, or parked closer than 15 feet from a fire hydrant ($115)
- Under Code 48: stopped, standing, or parked within a marked bicycle lane ($115)
- Under Code 67: parked in front of a pedestrian ramp ($165)
Gather evidence for dispute
Like any other dispute, you want to have some sort of evidence to back up your defense against the ticket. When it comes time to tell your side of the story, you want to be able to showcase actual proof that a ticket was given in error. A major part of this is properly taking accurate photos of the scenario that backs up your argument.
Be sure that all photos are clear and time-stamped, providing all the necessary details that could be important in the case, like:
- The position of your parked vehicle relative to the surroundings
- Street signs ensuring that the location is where it says it is
- Any obstructions that may have hidden signs (construction work, tree branches, etc)
- The parking meter, especially if broken or malfunctioning
- Your vehicle’s registration and license plate to confirm
- Any other important details that can help prove your case
Also consider getting witness statements if there’s some around that could help with your case. If other cars on the same block for example were also ticketed… collect written, signed, and date statements from them too to show there’s something ajar.
Submit the parking ticket dispute (the process)
Getting to the actual process of disputing the parking ticket, it’s important to take action as quickly as possible. Ticket disputes and hearing requests need to be submitted within 30 days after the ticket was issued to avoid paying late penalties. If you wait until after then, additional fees ranging from $10-$60 can be added to your overall total.
There are a few different ways to go about the dispute process in order to receive a hearing. Here are your options:
- Online: Visit the NYC Department of Finance’s website and submit your dispute digitally with all necessary information (ticket number, registration, evidence, etc).
- By mobile app: Use the NYC Parking Ticket Pay or Dispute app to submit your dispute, evidence, and ticket information.
- By mail: Fill out the dispute form provided with your ticket, include any supporting documentation, and mail it to the address specified on the form. Be mindful of shipping times in terms of deadlines and potential additional late fees later on.
- In person: Dispute your ticket in-person by walking into the Department of Finance Business Center from Monday – Friday during regular business hours. On a first-come first-served basis, you can present your “not guilty” case to an examiner with your proof and evidence you bring. Don’t forget your original ticket and vehicle documents.
Common reasons for ticket disputes
These are some of the common reasons that New Yorkers dispute parking tickets:
- Vehicle becomes disabled: In instances where your car has broken down or it’s waiting to be towed away, you may be able to overturn the ticket if the issuer didn’t understand the situation. If you can prove that the car suddenly became disabled and you had no way to move the car, you could win a dispute.
- Broken parking meters: Parking meters are on most blocks in New York City and are to be abided by when parking on those designated streets. However if a parking meter is broken, you run a risk by still parking in that spot and getting a ticket. If you can prove the meter was broken that day (photo evidence) you reported the meter on the 311 NYC website, you may be able to get off the hook.
- Human error: It’s important to remember that issuing officers are humans too who can make mistakes. If you think human error is at fault for a ticket you have every right to dispute the ticket.
What to expect during ticket dispute hearings
Depending on your type of hearing varies on how you’ll hear about the result of your dispute. For online or mail hearings, the decision will be emailed to you, and in-person hearing decisions are provided immediately.
Based on the result, your ticket will either be dismissed or upheld, in which you will have to pay the original fine.
If you still disagree with the decision, you can request an appeal within 30 days. This escalates your ticket dispute to The Appeals Board who will make the final decision. In order to submit for an appeal, you must request and pay for a transcript of your inital hearing and apply for an appeal online or by mail to the NYC Department of Finance.