Street parking in NYC can be a complex and often confusing experience for both residents and visitors. Understanding the rules and regulations is crucial to avoid parking tickets and ensure a smooth parking experience. Even when Alternate Side Parking (ASP) is suspended, it’s important to remember that all other parking rules and posted time limits remain in effect. This guide will help you navigate the intricacies of street parking in NYC, ensuring you’re informed and prepared.
Understanding Alternate Side Parking (ASP) Suspension
When ASP is suspended in NYC, it’s essential to understand what this means and, more importantly, what it doesn’t mean. A suspension of ASP means that you don’t need to move your vehicle for street cleaning on the days and times specified for suspension. However, this suspension is typically in effect from midnight the day before until midnight the day of the suspension. Crucially, the suspension of ASP does not override any other parking regulations. You must still adhere to all other posted parking signs and time limits. Always check the entire block for parking signs before leaving your vehicle, as NYC Traffic Rules require only one sign per block to be valid.
The 5-Minute Grace Period in ASP Zones
NYC provides a small buffer for drivers in ASP zones: a 5-minute grace period. This law allows drivers an extra 5 minutes beyond the time indicated on the ASP sign. During this grace period, parking enforcement officers are not permitted to issue parking tickets. This can be a helpful cushion when navigating the often-tight parking windows in the city.
Street Parking Rules on Major Legal Holidays
Major legal holidays in NYC bring about some changes to parking rules, in addition to potential ASP suspensions. On these holidays, you are permitted to park at locations with “No Stopping,” “No Standing,” or “No Parking” signs, but only if those rules are not normally in effect seven days a week. For example, if a sign reads “No Standing Anytime,” this rule remains in effect even on major holidays.
The major legal holidays in NYC are:
- New Year’s Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
Double Parking: A Persistent No-No
It is vital to remember that double parking of passenger vehicles is illegal in NYC at all times. This rule applies regardless of whether street cleaning is in progress, your location, the purpose of parking, or how long you intend to park. Even if you observe others double parking, and even if it seems to be a common practice in certain areas during street cleaning, it remains illegal and can result in a parking ticket. The logic is simple: an illegally parked vehicle, whether occupied or unoccupied, creates safety hazards and contributes to traffic congestion.
Commercial vehicles do have a limited exception: they may double park briefly for pickups, deliveries, or service calls during posted hours only, as detailed in the NYC Traffic Rules, Chapter 4, Section 4-08, subdivision (f), paragraph (1).
Street Parking and Open Streets
NYC’s Open Streets program can sometimes intersect with street parking regulations, particularly ASP. When ASP is in effect on an Open Street, vehicles are expected to leave the street for the duration of the ASP period. Vehicles can return to the street once ASP is over. If barriers are in place for the Open Street, they should be positioned to allow vehicles to navigate around them. When driving onto or off of an Open Street, always exercise caution, watch out for pedestrians, and drive at a maximum speed of 5 MPH.
Need More Information on NYC Street Parking?
This guide provides an overview of key aspects of street parking in NYC. For comprehensive details and to review the official regulations, refer to the NYC Traffic Rules. If you have specific enforcement questions, you should contact your local police precinct. You can find precinct contact information on the Police Precincts and PSAs page. Always prioritize reading and understanding posted parking signs to ensure you are parking legally and safely in NYC.
