Opinions of Peter Belmont
Speaking Truth to Power
| What “alternate side parking regulations suspended” means in NYC |
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by Peter A. Belmont / 2012-11-08
The City of New York enforces a wide variety no-parking, no-stopping, and no-standing regulations—for a variety of reasons, too— by issuance of summonses, assessing fines, and (cruelly expensive and time consuming-to-recover-from) towing. BACKGROUND: The out-of-town reader should know that on most streets in the city, parking is DISALLOWED for a few hours once a week (or so) to allow for street cleaning. In the event that such a street is a narrow one-way street, that parking is DISALLOWED for a few hours a week on SIDE-A, and that NO PARKING is generally allowed across the street (on SIDE-B), there is often a complementary rule which ALLOWS PARKING on SIDE-B but only during the hours when parking is disallowed on SIDE-A. At first blush, ASPRS2S would seem to be the rules which DISALLOW parking for a few hours one day a week to allow for street cleaning. Perhaps the complementary rules which ALLOW parking across the street (or nearby), but ONLY during the hours disallowed by the other rules, are also ASPRS2S—but perhaps not! If both sides of the street were “parkable” when “suspension” is in effect, then the street, if narrow, might be impassable to garbage trucks and fire trucks. Therefore, one might wonder if “suspension” affects only the once-a-week DISALLOWANCE rule or both it and the complementary once-a-week ALLOWANCE rule. I don’t know. There is a published calendar of regularly scheduled suspensions.. Radio stations frequently announce that “alternate side parking regulations are suspended”. But What Does “Suspension” Actually Mean? I was curious to know what this means. I figured the city would let all (or, at least, all its parking, stopping, and standing) drivers know what such “suspension” means. Best I can figure out, the city almost tells us. But not quite. Here is my best guess what the city means. THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE. IT IS A GUESS. As near as I can figure out from the city’s rather indistinct indications on the web, “alternate side parking suspended”—announced on New York City radio stations from time to time, sometimes per schedule and sometimes due to emergencies (such as Hurricane Sandy)—suspension means the following: My Guess of the Meaning of “Suspension” At any time and in any place within the City of New York during which time and in which place (all or part of the city) “Alternate Side Parking Regulations” are suspended, the city will not enforce any regulation which prohibits stopping, standing, or parking on a part-time basis (such “PARKING FROM 9 AM - NOON ON WEDNESDAYS ONLY” or “NO PARKING WEDNESDAYS FROM 9 AM - NOON”), but will continue to enforce any prohibition of stopping, standing, or parking which is not part-time (such as, for instance, the regulation “NO STANDING ANYTIME”). Outstanding Questions There are non-permanent no-parking signs which would not seem to fall within the meaning of Alternate Side Parking (in relation to Street Cleaning). For example, a sign which says “1-hour Parking M-F 8AM-7PM” is certainly a sign which does NOT say “NO PARKING ANYTIME”, but also doesn’t look like an Alternate Side Parking sign. As another example, a sign which says “No Parking M-F 4PM-7PM” is certainly a sign which does NOT say “NO PARKING ANYTIME”, but also doesn’t look like an Alternate Side Parking sign. It looks as if such signs DO fall within the city’s definition, but I wouldn’t bet the farm on it. What the City Says in One Place The city’s web-site comes close to defining “suspension” by saying (but, curiously, only in regard to scheduled holiday suspensions, and not in regard to any other “suspensions”): The City suspends alternate side parking (ASP) rules on the legal and religious holidays listed below. On major legal holidays, stopping, standing and parking are permitted except in areas where stopping, standing and parking rules are in effect seven days a week (e.g., “No Standing Anytime”). Parking meter regulations are also suspended on major legal holidays. On all other holidays, only street cleaning rules are suspended, all other regulations remain in effect. As a rule, a suspendable alternate-side-parking no-parking regulation is indicated by a sign with a RED P stroked-through with a BROOM, indicating that street cleaning is the reason for the regulation.[1] I have no idea if there is any other mechanism by which the city indicates a not-full-time no-parking regulation which (as it seems) is suspended (not enforced) when “Alternate Side Parking Regulations Are Suspended.” But, then, I sold my car the first week I moved into Brooklyn. ----------- [1] Most SCR signs are clearly marked with the “P” symbol with the broom through it. Some SCR signs are the traditional 3-hour ones (8am to 11am etc.) but others vary considerably. ”No Parking” street cleaning rules are also suspended in parking meter zones during 34 holidays when other street cleaning rules are suspended; however, the metered parking itself, as well as all other regulations not suspended on those days. Meters remain in effect, expect major Holidays listed Here.Basic_NYC_Street_Parking_Info |
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