Common Misconceptions. Ignorance of the Law - NYC.gov/Finance

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Common Misconceptions

Ignorance of the Law

The fact that you did not know the law is not a defense to a parking ticket.

The fact that you’ve been parking there for years without ever being ticketed is not a defense.

The fact that you were the only one ticketed, even though others were parked similarly, is not a defense.

Sign Violations

The fact that you did not see a posted sign is not a defense—unless the sign was illegible.

The fact that you did not see a posted sign on the block because it was too far away is not a defense.

The fact that you misunderstood the sign is not a defense.

The fact that only a small part of your car was in the prohibited zone is not a defense.

The fact that you were sitting behind the wheel with the car running and waiting for a friend in the NO STANDING or NO PARKING or NO STOPPING zone is not a defense.

Double Parking

The fact that you were double-parked for only a brief period is not a defense.

The fact that it is difficult to find parking during street cleaning times is not a defense.

The fact that the cleaning truck never came to clean the streets that day is not a defense.

Crosswalks

The fact that you were not blocking the pedestrian ramp portion of the crosswalk is not a defense.

The fact that only a small part of your car was on the crosswalk line is not a defense. No part of your car can be on any part of the crosswalk lines.

Inspection

The fact that you had no time to get the vehicle inspected is not a defense.

The fact that you were out of town on the expiration date of the inspection is not a defense.

The fact that you tried to inspect but were unable to have the inspection completed by the expiration date is not a defense.

The fact that you got your new inspection within 24 hours of receiving the ticket is not a defense.

Bus Lane Violations

The fact that there were no actual buses in sight is not a defense.

The fact that you left enough space for the bus to fit at the bus stop as you waited for a friend is not a defense.

The fact that other motorists were also using the Bus Only lane is not a defense.