Hello Larry and Dan! 
Firstly, just want to say how much I like your website, and how helpful it is. Keep up the great work! 
And, in light of this most recent blog post, I have a question! 
 
I couple of days ago, I received a parking ticket. It was for parking too close to a fire hydrant. The violation reads: 
Fire Hydrant (e) (2) 5 FEET FROM HYDRANT. 
Now, I was completely flabbergasted by this ticket, because it was SO obvious that I was parked MUCH further away than 5 feet. Additionally, the Place of Occurrence reads the address that the hydrant in front of, and NOT the address where I was parked, which was the next door down.  
 
So, I got out my tape measure, and measured the distance from the hydrant to the car. I was in fact parked 13 feet from the hydrant. So I took pictures, which included the car and the hydrant in the same picture, the car, the tape measure, and the hydrant in the same picture, and the car and the address of the house in which I was parked in front of in the same picture. I took all pictures in various close-ups and wide shots. It was dark out, but the close-ups came out fine with the flash, and the wider shots were not totally useless. 
 
Now, my question is this: I know that I am still within the 15-foot minimum that a car needs to be from a hydrant, but my understanding is that if there is anything incorrect about a ticket, that ticket is considered void. It seems here that there are TWO falsehoods on this ticket, one being the distance written, and the other being the address that I was not parked in front of.  
 
If I try to fight this ticket, is there anything I can do to get it thrown out/reduced/anything at all? And HOW should I fight this ticket? Evidently, I can do it by mail, in person, or online. I have 30 days. Please help!  
 
-A down-on-his-luck New Yorker 

I was towed last Saturday evening. I misread the sign (No Standing 4pm-7pm except Sunday), so OK. I got towed and got a ticket for No Standing. So I had to pay $185 to retrieve my car and now I have a $115 ticket. However I noticed they entered my registration expiration date incorrectly on the ticket (they entered 3/12 and it's really 6/12). I know I can get the ticket dismissed on that, but my question is whether I can get my tow fees back as well? Thanks in advance!

Daniel, 
 
I apologize for taking so long to reply. I've been out-of-state playing daddy-daycare for my 7 month old grand daughter. 
 
I am sorry to report, you have an up-hill fight if you cannot prove you were parked more than 15 feet from the fire hydrant. 
 
You pose an interesting question about the place of occurrence being wrong because it placed you next to the fire hydrant. Generally, a place of occurrence is a building that has at least 5 feet of frontage. A judge will immediately interpret the ticket as your car being at the location entered on the parking ticket and the pump being 5 feet away from your parked car. 
 
It has been our experience a judge prefers to l0se his "guilty sign" rather than dismiss a fire hydrant violation. 
 
Good luck.

Carlos, 
 
Good afternoon. 
I trust your car is registered in NY. 
If so, you are a winner! 
Congratulations. 
 
Yes, indeed, your tow fees will be refunded, after your parking ticket is dismissed. You can secure a tow refund form on the resources page of our website. 
 
Nicely done. 
Good luck.

My vehicle was illegally towed on the morning I went to retrieve it. What a nightmare. I was on my way to pick up relatives & we were on our way to attend my grand uncle's funeral service! There were no tickets in judgement.I was given a bogus parking ticket, which was subsequently dismissed; therefore a refund should have been given to me for the tow charge. I filled out the proper form for the refund given to me by the DMV; but I never received my money bavk; nor did I ever even receive anresponse. I wrote to the Dept. of Legal Affairs on John Street explaining what happened & I included all copies of my documents. Still no response. What should I do? How do I get my money back? According to the law, I deserve a refund. Please tell me how to proceed. 
 
Yours truly, 
 
Dianne Kuzyns

Dianne, 
 
Good morning. 
What a horror story! 
 
Please email or fax me the documents you submitted for your tow refund. Once I review them, I'll be in a better position to help you. 
 
Looking forward to solving this conundrum. 
 
Best, 
Larry 
 
email: larry@newyorkparkingticket.com 
fax: 800-313-1092

I was recently parked in an illegal spot (only commercial vehicles). My car was towed and there was also a $115 ticket on my windshield. The time the ticket was issued was only 9 minutes before the car was entered into the system at the impound lot (I have papers to prove this). Is there a grace period that you are entitled to after getting a ticket before they can tow you? Should I be able to fight this ticket and/or get the tow fees back? Thanks!

Dear Andy, 
 
Good afternoon. 
I am so sorry to hear about the tow. I despise towing for parking violations.  
 
There is no grace period before the police can tow your car after a parking ticket is issued. 
 
If you beat the ticket, the tow charges will be refunded. 
 
Good luck. 
Best, 
Larry

My car was towed this morning and when I found out why it was for some tickets issued in 2011. However at the time of these tickets the car was no longer registered to me. I also looked up the address of the ticket and found out that the address on the ticket did not exist. How can I get these tickets removed and my car back without paying all these fines for tickets that's not mine?

Tiffany, 
 
Good afternoon. 
Sorry to hear about your parking ticket pain. 
 
Please check out Larry's Advice, if you'd like my help with your problem. Here's the link to copy and paste into your browser...http://www.newyorkparkingticket.com/larrys-advice/ 
 
Good luck. 
Best, 
Larry

I got towed. I have no outstanding tickets. I parked my car on a street with signs that say "No Parking Monday-Friday 7am-5pm SCHOOL DAYS Department of Education". The school in which the signs are referring to is a dilapidated structure & abandoned elementary shool. How can the city have towed, when it is not a functioning school to which the signs are suggesting? Just because the city hasn't taken the time out to remove these signs...taxpayers, like myself, get bamboozled into paying unfairly comparison... If I parked my car on a street that has signs that read Pay At MuniMeter....and there aren't any MuniMeters there, only a mile away, can I still be responsible to pay or will my car be towed as well?? Granted I took my chances by parking there with the sign visible but come on!!??!!

James, 
 
That really sucks! 
 
First of all, it was an illegal ticket and tow. If a school is not in session, let alone a dilapidated, abandoned building formerly used as a school, it is legal to park in a space regulated by a "school day" sign.  
 
I hope you intend to fight this corrupt parking ticket. The tipping point is to properly prove the school is not in session, or the building is no longer used as a school. You may wish to fight the parking ticket by mail, and submit: 
 
1. A defense letter explaining your defense 
2. Photographs 
3. Proof that the building is no longer used as a school 
 
When your parking ticket is dismissed, your tow charges will be refunded (upon simple application). 
 
If you'd like me to review your documents prior to submission, I'm happy to do so- No charge. 
 
Sorry about your pain. 
When you're right--Fight! 
 
Best, 
Larry