I received a double parking ticket for parking on an alternate side at 1:02.
I was coming outside as the cop issued the ticket. He said that I need to move the car by 1:00.
I have 2 ways of fighting.
1- The ticket stated that I was double parked in front of xxxx East 7th st. (I checked and that is a valid address)
I was actually parked on east 8th st.
2-Can I say that there is a 5 minute grace period?
My neighbor was outside and saw the whole thing. Can I use him as a witness?
How should I fight it?
Just so we understand -- you were double parked on one side of the street during the street cleaning time period for the opposite side, correct?
Most important one may be -- the location where the tickets SAYS you were parked, is that the right or wrong side for that day? If it's the right side for that day, you may be able to argue that the summons was issued in error.
The only problem is that double parking is (I think) one of those unwritten rules -- it is illegal at any time, but they "allow it" during alternate side periods.
There is an official 5 minute grace period in NYC law now....
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dof/html/parking/parking.shtmlBut I don't think it would apply to your situation, as you were double parked anyway. That said, you can probably try sending a letter in, using the reference to the 5 minute grace period, as if the officer officially (or un-officially) allows double parking until 1:00 PM -- then in the spirit of the 5 minute grace period, you should be OK until 1:05 -- that may actually work.