Frequently Asked Questions
- Why should I use M&S Parking to fight parking tickets?
- Do I just pay a ticket when I get it?
- Can I fight parking tickets?
- Can parking tickets get dismissed?
- What happens if I ignore my parking ticket?
- What do I do with a Notice of Outstanding Summons when I receive it from the Department of Finance?
- Can my vehicle get towed?
- How do I get M&S to fight my ticket?
- Are there any additional areas M&S can help me with?
- What does Alternate Side Parking mean?
- Is there a difference between No Standing and No Parking?
- How do muni-meters work?
- What is a commercial vehicle?
- Are there special regulations for commercial vehicles?
- Why does the City issue parking tickets?
Q: Why should I use M&S Parking to fight parking tickets?
A: We've been fighting parking tickets for our clients for over 40 years. We know what to look for and the best defenses that can be raised for each violation. Unlike other parking ticket defense firms, we don't just mail you a generic defense form letter to send in with your ticket. Our attorneys analyze every ticket for all applicable defenses and then fight each one live in Court.
Q: Do I just pay a ticket when I get it?
A: No! Tickets are often defective or have a valid commercial defense and are therefore dismissible. Contact us when you receive a parking ticket - we will analyze it for all applicable defenses, then fight it in court.
Q: Can I fight parking tickets?
A: Absolutely. We recommend having the experts at M&S fight the ticket on your behalf. We employ a customized 35-point analysis to identify all applicable defenses. We fought over 100,000 tickets for our clients last year and saved them over $8 million.
Q: Can parking tickets get dismissed?
A: Yes! Mistakes are often made when issuing tickets, rendering the ticket defective and dismissible. There are also commercial defenses that can be raised on your behalf.
Q: What happens if I ignore my parking ticket?
A: You can still fight the ticket, but a $10 penalty will be added after 30 days. Penalties will increase up to $60 after 90 days. If you still don't take action after 100 days, the ticket will have a default judgment entered against you, and you risk having your vehicle towed.
Q: What do I do with a Notice of Outstanding Summons when I receive it from the Department of Finance?
A: Don't panic- a Notice of Outstanding Summons is basically a reminder that you received a parking ticket and haven't taken action on it yet. Contact us as soon as possible to fight the ticket for you to avoid accruing late penalties.
Q: Can my vehicle get towed?
A: Yes. If you are parked illegally, you are subject to having your vehicle towed. The more restrictive the signs are (e.g. No stopping, blocking the pedestrian ramp, fire hydrant, bus stop, etc.) the more likely you are to be towed. You can also be towed if your vehicle accrues more than $350 in judgment parking/ red light/ bus lane ticket fines and penalties.
Q: How do I get M&S to fight my ticket?
A: It's simple - send us your parking ticket. We analyze it for all applicable defenses and then our attorneys fight the ticket in court. It's that simple. Your time is valuable - end the stress and inconvenience of dealing with tickets. We do it for you!
Q: Are there any additional areas M&S can help me with?
A: M&S offers services dealing with camera violations (red light and bus lane), vehicle tow refunds and registration clearances. Please contact us for more information.
Q: What does Alternate Side Parking mean?
A: Alternate side parking requires vehicles to park on certain sides of the street on given days to allow street cleaning trucks to pass by. This sign shows drivers cannot park on Tuesdays and Fridays from 11am to 12:30 pm:
The city suspends the alternate side parking rules on certain holidays, so vehicles are permitted to park on either side of the street. The alternate side suspension calendar can be found here.
Q: Is there a difference between No Standing and No Parking?
A: Yes! A No Parking sign is less restrictive than a No Standing sign.
In a No Parking zone, commercial vehicles can stand to expeditiously* load and unload goods and equipment only; passenger vehicles can stand to expeditiously* load and unload passengers only. Vehicles cannot occupy the space for any other reason (regardless of whether anyone is inside the vehicle), unless authorized by a parking permit (e.g. handicapped parking permit).
In a No Standing zone, commercial vehicles cannot stand here; passenger vehicles can only stand to load and unload passengers.
*Ticket agents consider expeditious to be 30 minutes or less.
Q: How do muni-meters work?
A: Muni-meters are computerized parking kiosks located on many New York City streets. Drivers can buy parking time from the muni-meter using coins, credit cards or NYC parking cards. The meter prints a receipt for the driver to display on the vehicle's dashboard. Always make sure the printed side of the receipt is facing up to avoid a parking ticket for failure to display a muni-meter receipt!
Q: What is a commercial vehicle?
A: In New York City, for a vehicle to be considered commercial, it must have all of the following:
- commercial plates
- be permanently altered by having all rear seats and seat fittings removed
- the registrant's (business) name and address permanently affixed and centered on both sides of the vehicle in characters at least 3" high in contrasting colors.
Q: Are there special regulations for commercial vehicles?
A: Commercial vehicles are allowed more leeway by the city when it comes to certain regulations, such as No Parking and No Standing. However, the vehicle needs to be engaged in the expeditious loading or unloading of goods or equipment to receive this consideration.
Q: Why does the City issue parking tickets?
A: In theory, the goal of parking tickets is to relieve congestion, ensure pedestrian safety and free up more parking spaces for New York City drivers by encouraging the free flow of traffic. In reality, parking tickets generated nearly $540 million for the city last year alone...