NYC Parking Ticket wrong registration info

[tpxdmd]

In New York City, I received a ticket for being a no standing zone (can't contest that I was there, but I was unloading luggage from a trip and was there for, honestly, about 90 seconds. Was I wrong? Yes, but if there was a fire, for pete's sake, I would have gotten out of the way pretty darned fast). Anyways, the ticket info has the wrong registration info of my car. Specifically, it has my registration expiring a full 1 month before my car was actually registered (March 09 exp on the ticket, rather than April 09 when my car was registered in Massachusetts). Is this contestable?

Thanks for any advice.

[HighwayMan]

Originally Posted by tpxdmd

In New York City, I received a ticket for being a no standing zone (can't contest that I was there, but I was unloading luggage from a trip and was there for, honestly, about 90 seconds. Was I wrong? Yes, but if there was a fire, for pete's sake, I would have gotten out of the way pretty darned fast). Anyways, the ticket info has the wrong registration info of my car. Specifically, it has my registration expiring a full 1 month before my car was actually registered (March 09 exp on the ticket, rather than April 09 when my car was registered in Massachusetts). Is this contestable?

Thanks for any advice.

I doubt very much that will make a difference. It would if you were written for a registration offense, but for a "no standing", no it's basically irrelevant if the other vehicle information is correct.

A fire doesn't not enter into it. It was a posted "no standing" zone. You could expeditiously pick up/discharge passengers but cargo doesn't count. You are guilty as charged, based on your story. Even if it WAS passengers 90 seconds is stretching it.

[HighwayMan]

Best you could hope for is plead not guilty and they will send you an offer in the mail - in exchange for a guilty plea they will reduce the fine to $90 or $95 (I forget now what the amount is).

They do that to get as many cases disposed of as they can, since the system is overburdened.

[You Are Guilty]

For NY-registered vehicles, that would be sufficient grounds upon which to challenge the ticket. For an out-of-state registration, it's anyone's guess.

Print this PDF, and use it when you go to challenge the ticket. A clerk will look it over before you even get to an ALJ, so you should be able to find out rather quickly if your defense will fly.
http://www.nysscpa.org/prof_library/city2000/deptfinancepubs/pvo_itslaw_00.pdf

[tpxdmd]

I appreciate the quick answers.

Seems to me the NYC parking laws are designed to trap out-of-staters. But what can I do, I suppose?

[HighwayMan]

That's a ridiculous statement. What do you base that upon?

[You Are Guilty]

Originally Posted by tpxdmd

Seems to me the NYC parking laws are designed to trap anyone with a car in NYC.

Fixed that for you.