WITH parking law crackdowns sweeping the nation, metropolitan motorists are clinging to the idea that they can park next to fire hydrants under certain conditions.
However, this isn’t actually the case, and could result in drivers paying $115 fines that could’ve easily been avoided.
The temporary Alternate Side Parking suspension has raised questions about what rules are in effect[/caption]
Crowded city streets are no excuse to block fire hydrants[/caption]
Keeping streets and sidewalks clear for fire trucks and other EMS responders is key to a safe city[/caption]
In observance of the Rosh Hashanah holiday this week, New York City elected to suspend Alternate Side Parking rules on Tuesday and Wednesday.
While some have taken this to mean all parking rules on Alternate Side Parking streets have been suspended, such as those concerning fire hydrants, this isn’t the case.
Those Alternate Side Parking areas which have fire hydrants will still have the 15-foot hydrant parking rule in effect.
Some drivers were also under the impression that painted curbs at certain hydrant locations indicated that it was permissible to park next to them, but this is not the case.
The only law drivers must account for when parking nearby a fire hydrant is staying 15 feet away or more from the hydrant.
This is intended to allow fire trucks to both be able to access the fire hydrant, and keep the street open for other traffic to go by when possible.
Drivers who park within 15 feet of any fire hydrant will be slapped with a $115 fine, which does not increase for repeat offenders.
There are no additional punishments for repeat offenders, such as having their cars towed by the city.
Despite the law, or possibly even due to its lack of escalation for repeat offenders, many motorists still park in front of fire hydrants, whether as a last resort or otherwise.
Furthermore, while the issuance of a ticket does punish the driver, it doesn’t result in the hydrant being unblocked since there’s no escalation beyond the basic fine for repeat offenders.
Data shows that the parking complaints submitted through 311 can be marked as resolved by the NYPD in as little as 14 seconds, per a 2024 study published by New York University.
In the case of hydrant parking violations, this is enough time to write and hand out a ticket at best, which does nothing to actually unblock the hydrant.
FATAL FLAW IN HYDRANT ENFORCEMENT
In February, the issues with this enforcement approach were highlighted when a Brooklyn man died in a fire, and a woman and child were left in critical condition.
The tragedy was partially blamed on illegally parked cars blocking the two closest hydrants, which resultantly delayed rescue efforts.
How to fight a parking ticket
You can avoid being ticketed by following all posted laws and ordinances, but sometimes mistakes are made
Like any form of citation, parking tickets are preventable by reading and obeying posted signage. However, when visiting a new city, or state, or in a hurry, things can be missed and mistakes are made.
Suddenly there’s a ticket you weren’t prepared to pay for. If the ticket is a surprise to you, there are a few things you can do to help your case when appealing a parking ticket.
- Carefully read the ticket. Look for errors like incorrect street names, license plate numbers, vehicle make and model, time and date, etc. Errors would then make the ticket invalid.
- Take photos. Of the vehicle in the parking space, lack of signage, or other vehicles that weren’t cited for performing the same parking job. If the ticket involves parking too close to something like a fire hydrant, a photo showing a reasonable distance would help your case. Make sure metadata with the time and date are accessible. Signs that are obstructed by trees, or are on bent posts, or aren’t “obvious” are great things to photograph, too.
- Make sure the statute that was violated is listed on the ticket. If not listed, the ticket is not valid.
- Promptly follow the appeal instructions on the ticket. All legitimate tickets will have directions for appeal. Waiting until the very last moment weakens your argument and can result in late fees.
- When in court, avoid these phrases as they reduce your credibility and weaken your argument: I didn’t know the law; I was on my way to move my car; I can’t afford this ticket; I’ve been doing this for years; or I checked with the parking officer, who said it was OK.
- Contact a lawyer. If you’re running into roadblocks and feel stuck, it may be best to reach out to a traffic lawyer in your area. Many have free case consultations.
Source: Reader’s Digest
In the aftermath, the FDNY emphasized that “seconds count in an emergency,” per local CBS affiliate WCBS.
“We’ll never achieve safe, sustainable streets in New York while this remains the case,” added Bike New York’s director of advocacy Jon Orcutt on the normalization and lax enforcement of hydrant parking per Streetsblog NYC.
Locals have also noticed the “overwhelming lack of enforcement,” as StreetsPAC executive director and NYC resident Eric McClure phrased it.
“In all my 311 reports about illegal parking in front of the fire hydrant [near McClure’s home], the report is closed, and the car is still sitting there, and there’s no ticket on the windshield,” he furthered.
“We need some combination of more pervasive enforcement and higher fines for committing that offense. For repeat offenders, you could have a graduated fine scale,” he suggested as an alternative.
Other ideas such as giving locals the power to writeup offenders in exchange for collecting a bounty have been suggested, but the city has not adopted any major change in hydrant parking violation enforcement as of this writing.
