Senator Felder to DOT: Make Up Your Mind

Senator Simcha Felder (D- Boro Park, Midwood) called on DOT to correct deceptive parking signs throughout the city.

“Parking signs should not contradict each other. Common sense dictates that people should be able to rely on the accuracy of all DOT parking signs and posted parking rules should be clear and simple. It is upsetting that hardworking New Yorkers are unwitting victims of this ticket trap,” said Senator Felder.

The issue was brought to Senator Felder’s attention when an area resident parked beside a Street Cleaning sign located on 63rd Street between 15th and 16th Avenues. The sign says, No Parking Wednesday, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM, an arrow below points in both directions. To any reasonable person that sign indicates that at every other time parking is permissible within both directions of the sign. He was shocked when he returned to his car to find a 60-dollar ticket.

90 feet away and out of view, stands a contradicting sign that reads, No Parking Monday through Friday 8 AM – 6 PM with an arrow pointing in the direction of the first sign. Because by city code, the No Parking sign (Mon - Thurs 8am -6pm) overrules and invalidates the first Street Cleaning sign, his not-guilty plea was denied and on appeal, he lost again.

“It is outrageous, but unfortunately not surprising, that despite DOT posting a misleading Street Cleaning sign with inaccurate arrows pointing drivers in the direction of illegal parking, drivers still have no defensible position or recourse,” remarked the Senator.

“Parking is difficult enough and people don’t deserve to be ticketed for obeying rules posted by the city. It is unfair to expect people to canvass the area in all types of weather and under all sorts of conditions searching for a sign that may contradict the sign right in front of their eyes. I have asked DOT to correct these signs immediately,” concluded Senator Felder.