A MAJOR parking rule has been suspended following a snowstorm which hit parts of the country this week.
Drivers who circumvent the parking rule can now focus on winter cleaning their car instead of moving it.
New York City has suspended a major parking rule following more than two inches of snowfall this weekend.
Drivers in the five boroughs won’t have to worry about alternative secondary parking rules Monday.
The rules will be suspended until 11:59 p.m. Monday evening, returning to normal on Tuesday at midnight.
While drivers in the Big Apple are typically required to change the side of the street they park on for street cleaning purposes, that is not the case today.
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Instead, the city is prioritizing keeping roads as clear as possible to allow plows to plow snow off the roads, with cars staying where they currently are apparently the best way to do so.
This decision was made in anticipation of even heavier snowfall in the area later this evening.
Fortunately, these are expected to be lighter snow showers or a wintry mix, as opposed to the heavy snowfall brought by the weekend storm.
The city also confirmed that these same parking rules would be suspended on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, giving New Yorkers a big reprieve during the holiday season.
Drivers who have already cleared their cars of snow and ice may want to consider taking preventative measures against the buildup of both to make their Tuesday morning commute quicker and easier.
Motorists who don’t already have winter tires on their vehicles should do so, with this latest storm proving that it’s finally time to make the switch.
How to fight a parking ticket
You can avoid getting a ticket by following all posted laws and ordinances, but mistakes are sometimes made.
Like any form of citation, parking tickets can be avoided by reading and obeying posted signage. However, when visiting a new city or state, or when in a hurry, things can go missing and mistakes are made.
Suddenly there’s a ticket you weren’t ready to pay for. If the ticket surprises you, there are things you can do to help when appealing a parking ticket.
- Read the post carefully. Check for errors like incorrect street names, license plate numbers, vehicle make and model, time and date, and more. Errors would then render the ticket invalid.
- Take photos. From the vehicle present in the parking space, the lack of signage or other vehicles that have not been cited to carry out the same parking work. If the ticket involves parking too close to a fire hydrant, for example, a photo showing a reasonable distance would help your case. Make sure the metadata with time and date is accessible. Signs that are obstructed by trees, placed on curved posts, or that aren’t “obvious” are also great things to photograph.
- Make sure the law that was violated is listed on the ticket. If it is not listed, the ticket is invalid.
- Promptly follow the calling instructions on the ticket. All legitimate tickets will have instructions for appealing. Waiting until the very last moment weakens your argument and can result in late fees.
- When you are in court, avoid these phrases because they reduce your credibility and weaken your argument: I did not 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 attendant, who told me everything was fine.
- Contact a lawyer. If you encounter obstacles and feel stuck, it may be best to contact a traffic lawyer in your area. Many offer free consultations.
Source: Reader’s Digest
