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Fire hydrants. They’re everywhere in New York and if there’s one thing every big city government knows how to do, it’s issue parking tickets. If you’ve received a fire hydrant ticket in New York (particularly in New York City), there are a few things you should know.

What Are the Fire Hydrant Laws in New York?

Nowhere in the great state of New York are you permitted to park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant. That’s because the state’s Vehicle and Traffic Law (VTL), which regulates all things to do with public roadways, has rendered it illegal.

Specifically, VTL §1202.3(b)2 is the law that covers parking near fire hydrants. But this law does more than just ban parking near fire hydrants. It bans all stopping and standing near them as well.

When Are the Hydrant Laws in Effect?

New York State’s fire hydrant proximity parking prohibitions are constant. They are in effect at all times of all days every year. Unless otherwise posted or overruled by a peculiar local ordinance, these laws always apply.

What Is the Cost of a Fire Hydrant Ticket in NYC?

Fire hydrant parking tickets can be quite expensive, double what you would expect to pay for many other kinds of parking tickets in the state. In New York City specifically, a single fire hydrant parking ticket can cost you $115 in fines.

Why Are Hydrant Tickets So Strict?

Most emergencies arise from unforeseen circumstances. Such surprises can’t be predicted, which means there’s no way to accurately predict whether you can safely block a fire hydrant. With that in mind, the government chose to prohibit parking too close to fire hydrants at any time.

The goal of these laws is to ensure that fire hydrants remain accessible to firefighters and emergency responders at all times. Emergency personnel cannot rely on the notion that people will use their better judgment and leave those spaces open, so law enforcement personnel have chosen to penalize people who park there.

Can You Park by a Broken Hydrant?

Yes, you can park by a broken fire hydrant—but you shouldn’t. Unless you work for the city and have detailed knowledge of which fire hydrants are out of commission, there’s virtually no way to know whether any particular fire hydrant is still in operation. Just because one looks broken doesn’t mean that it is. And, even if it actually is broken, that doesn’t mean the city knows that it’s broken.

Erroneously believing that the fire hydrant you parked next to was broken is not an excuse in a court of law. You can still be issued a parking ticket and you will still be expected to pay it (or to contest it by other means).

Exceptions to the Law

There are two exceptions to VTL §1202.3(b)2: having a driver in the vehicle ready to move it if the need arises and when local rules display or require a different distance.

The first exception requires that a driver remain seated in the vehicle ready to “immediately move such vehicle in case of emergency.” That is, the driver of the vehicle that is stopping, standing, or parking within 15 feet of the fire hydrant must remain seated in the driver seat ready to move the car without perceptible delay. If a fire engine approaches, there can be no hesitation. Wait too long to move the vehicle and you can still receive a ticket.

The second exception acknowledges the precedent that New York State’s traffic laws are often designed to honor the local laws of cities and counties rather than imposing the state’s will on them. If a local jurisdiction seeks to impose a different stop distance, they are allowed by VTL §1202.3(b)2 to do so.

That is, when “different distance is indicated by official signs, markings, parking meters or the provisions of any local law, rule or ordinance[,]” those specific local signs, markings, laws, etc. override the state law.

Can I Get My Fire Hydrant Ticket Reduced or Dismissed?

If you don’t want (or can’t afford) to pay the $115 fine for a fire hydrant ticket in NYC, you have options. You will have 30 days to respond to the ticket with a plea of not guilty. That time starts the moment you receive the ticket (or a corresponding Notice of Liability). Once you’ve received it, you’ll need to enter your plea of not guilty as soon as possible.

Then begins the parking ticket dispute process. This process can be long and challenging, often taking weeks or even months to reach fruition. Fortunately, there are ways to hire safe and affordable legal services through the WinIt app (we’ll cover that more in depth at the end of this article). The goal will be to take your case to court (or hire a lawyer to do so on your behalf) and argue that you should not be required to pay it.

How To Fight a Fire Hydrant Ticket in NYC

There are three ways to navigate the fire hydrant parking ticket dispute process in NYC. The process for disputing tese tickets, handled by the New York City Department of Finance (DoF), can be started online, by mail, or in person.

Online

To kickstart the dispute process online, you will need a stable Internet connection and access to a computer. It’s possible to get both of those things at any of the city’s many public libraries. Next, log on to NYCServ, enter your information, and request a hearing for your parking ticket.

By Mail

Requesting a hearing by mail is quite common, despite many government agencies transitioning to rely less on physical mail. You can do so by filling out the plea information (not guilty) on the ticket and mailing it to the address provided on the ticket.

The downside to this method is that it takes much longer to process than the other two methods. Because of that, you’ll need to mail in your hearing request almost immediately after receiving the ticket. Otherwise, you risk it not being processed in time. In which case, the city might impose late fees, interest, or other penalties.

In Person

If you’d like to meet face-to-face to schedule a hearing, you can do so at the nearest DoF Business Center. Appointments are highly recommended, but walk-ins are accepted from Monday through Friday during normal business hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). However, with COVID-19 having brought so many changes to the way these procedures work, you should call ahead to see if anything has changed.

Hiring an Attorney To Fight Your Ticket Through appwinit.com

Traditionally, to fight a parking or traffic ticket, you would have to take time off work, spend hours researching the law, and then practice your argument for presentation to the judge in front of a dozen or so professionals. But that’s now a thing of the past.

Select an experienced parking ticket attorney from the WinIt app and you can send them to court on your behalf. That means no taking time off work, no hassling with the judge or issuing officer, etc. Hiring an attorney who specializes in handling parking tickets just like this one for people just like you also substantially increases the possibility of you receiving a more favorable outcome in your case.

So why pay over a hundred dollars for a parking ticket when you could potentially take your case to court and win it with WinIt?