Cops vs. Spiders

At 7:20 this morning—just like any other day—I pulled up near the Queens Market area and parked in a spot that wasn't marked, but there wasn't a single "No Parking" sign in sight either (right across from the south stands entrance).
I spotted four police officers standing just 15 meters away, with the police barricades set up on the other side of the street, but since I’m clearly not one of those sports fanatics who follows every game, it didn't occur to my brilliant mind that there might be some big match happening—my apologies to both genders following the sport:
Anyway, I came back for my car at 5:00 PM, and of course, it was gone. I asked an officer where they moved the vehicles, and he tells me they sent them to the impound lot. Not to mention I was already running late for everything; I hopped in a taxi and sped over to the lot... only to find a lovely little surprise: a fine for $167 😠
When I asked why, they claimed the police requested the cars be moved. When I asked why the police aren't footing the bill for this, he just shrugged and handed me the invoice.
Now I'm genuinely at a loss. The notice says filing an appeal doesn't stay the payment—meaning I can complain all I want, but I still have to pay up.
Help meeeee 😢
Is it even legal for them to charge me if I wasn't parked illegally? There was zero warning that cars would be towed, and there were four officers watching me park without saying a single word to me.

Look, just because there isn’t a sign specifically marking a spot as "parking" or explicitly stating "No Parking" doesn't mean you have a free pass to pull over wherever you feel like—it really doesn't! If it isn't a designated space, then it simply isn't a space. And honestly—whether we're talking about the ladies who love football or those who couldn't care less about the game—just because a "No Parking" sign isn't standing right there doesn't automatically mean you're allowed to park. It's basic logic!
There are a million spots out there where you aren't supposed to park, yet you won't find a single sign—like near a crosswalk, or within a certain distance from a wall, or things like that... you know what I mean?
I honestly don't see what the big deal is on your end... Plus, if you ask me, the police aren't even the ones dealing with poorly parked cars; it’s usually the local code enforcement or, in your case, the city's parking authority.

I’ve been parking right there alongside about fifty other cars for months—never once received a single citation.
The city parking authority told me the police were just requesting vehicles be moved due to the game (and those requests don't come with a fine).
The issue here is that they clearly intend to charge me—and apparently, I shouldn't be filing an appeal with the parking department, but with the police instead.
Sure, there are rules against parking on sidewalks or green spaces and all that nonsense, but even the lot in front of my building lacks marked spaces—yet everyone knows perfectly well that parking there is fine. 😉

edit: This is the area directly across from the stadium entrance—near the vacant lot in Brooklyn. I wasn't even within an inch of a wall (there isn't one; it's just public green space in front of the car), and the vehicle wasn't obstructing anyone—there was still more than a foot and a half of sidewalk left for pedestrians to pass easily.

Steven Reed said:I’ve been parking right there alongside about fifty other cars for months—never once received a single citation.
The city parking authority told me the police were just requesting vehicles be moved due to the game (and those requests don't come with a fine).
The issue here is that they clearly intend to charge me—and apparently, I shouldn't be filing an appeal with the parking department, but with the police instead.
Sure, there are rules against parking on sidewalks or green spaces and all that nonsense, but even the lot in front of my building lacks marked spaces—yet everyone knows perfectly well that parking there is fine. 😉

edit: This is the area directly across from the stadium entrance—near the vacant lot in Brooklyn. I wasn't even within an inch of a wall (there isn't one; it's just public green space in front of the car), and the vehicle wasn't obstructing anyone—there was still more than a foot and a half of sidewalk left for pedestrians to pass easily.

In the city, you are permitted to park exclusively in designated parking areas.
In your specific situation, I suspect the parking authority will argue they were simply moving an improperly parked vehicle, which is technically accurate from a legal standpoint.
I would characterize this as a perfect storm of unfortunate circumstances. I empathize with your position and hope you prevail, but I fear the cards are stacked in favor of the ZPA.

I was foolish enough to hope that wouldn't be the answer 😢
--it isn't about the $167 itself, rather—the spot where I had my car parked was later commandeered by a fleet of BMWs for some VIP guests 😠
😢
But no—I’m filing a formal complaint. I've already reached out to the BBB, so we'll see how that plays out 🤷

Thomas Fowler84 said:In the city, you are permitted to park exclusively in designated parking areas.
In your specific situation, I suspect the parking authority will argue they were simply moving an improperly parked vehicle, which is technically accurate from a legal standpoint.
I would characterize this as a perfect storm of unfortunate circumstances. I empathize with your position and hope you prevail, but I fear the cards are stacked in favor of the ZPA.

lol, man, there are at least 150-200 cars parked there every single day because the lot over by the economics building charges fees, and I have NEVER (and I pass that way daily) seen a tow truck touch anyone there. The only time the tow trucks show up is if someone is being incredibly rude and parking on the grass, which I totally get. Once she saw the police and the yellow tape, she should have just found somewhere else to park; it's going to be tough to fight this. Still, this is basically New York City for you...
@Steven Reed
I drove by there today and the cops were busy putting up tape all around the stadium, but that was around noon. By 5 PM, it was probably too late for them to wait around, so they likely just called the tow truck.

Timothy Taylor11 said:lol, man, there are at least 150-200 cars parked there every single day because the lot over by the economics building charges fees, and I have NEVER (and I pass that way daily) seen a tow truck touch anyone there. The only time the tow trucks show up is if someone is being incredibly rude and parking on the grass, which I totally get. Once she saw the police and the yellow tape, she should have just found somewhere else to park; it's going to be tough to fight this. Still, this is basically New York City for you...
@Steven Reed
I drove by there today and the cops were busy putting up tape all around the stadium, but that was around noon. By 5 PM, it was probably too late for them to wait around, so they likely just called the tow truck.

Just because a hundred cars park there doesn't make it legal. It simply means the police might turn a blind eye under certain circumstances, though they will always have a valid excuse to issue a ticket if that spot is needed for someone drinking a Budweiser. I am not trying to defend the police, and honestly, I would likely park there myself if I were desperate for a spot, but I am merely explaining the legal reality of the situation.

Thomas Fowler84 said:Just because a hundred cars park there doesn't make it legal. It simply means the police might turn a blind eye under certain circumstances, though they will always have a valid excuse to issue a ticket if that spot is needed for someone drinking a Budweiser. I am not trying to defend the police, and honestly, I would likely park there myself if I were desperate for a spot, but I am merely explaining the legal reality of the situation.

But where else are those 200 cars supposed to go if not there? 😁
I assume you know exactly which spot I'm talking about?

They didn't even say a word to you at the scene, they just waited until later to start talking—can you believe how much of an idiot you look like now, trying to backtrack after the fact $167? That’s our "fine" police department for you; instead of actually doing their jobs and telling you to clear out immediately, they just let it happen... what a total disaster.

They didn't actually say anything to you at the time—they just commented on it afterward (honestly, how could anyone be that clueless about knowing when to step back $167?). That’s just our "fine" police department for you; instead of telling you to clear out immediately... what a complete disaster!!!!!

Oh, so you *heard* them say that? Like they actually gave you a heads-up...
I swear, the people spouting this kind of nonsense are the absolute best... lol

James Reed3 said:They didn't even say a word to you at the scene, they just waited until later to start talking—can you believe how much of an idiot you look like now, trying to backtrack after the fact $167? That’s our "fine" police department for you; instead of actually doing their jobs and telling you to clear out immediately, they just let it happen... what a total disaster.

It really comes down to their individual level of professionalism. Just look at the actual traffic safety law—it explicitly states the conditions under which a tow truck can haul your car away (check Article 84), requires them to provide a sketch or a photo of the vehicle, and you could still end up getting hit with an illegal parking fine. At the very least, you're looking at a parking ticket, but you have to file a formal dispute if you want to fight it. If you just pay the fine, you're basically waving goodbye to any right to appeal.

darkheron922 said:It really comes down to their individual level of professionalism. Just look at the actual traffic safety law—it explicitly states the conditions under which a tow truck can haul your car away (check Article 84), requires them to provide a sketch or a photo of the vehicle, and you could still end up getting hit with an illegal parking fine. At the very least, you're looking at a parking ticket, but you have to file a formal dispute if you want to fight it. If you just pay the fine, you're basically waving goodbye to any right to appeal.

I went ahead and paid the fine—but only because the notice explicitly stated that filing an appeal wouldn't stop the collection process. I also took a look at Articles 84, 85, and 86 of the traffic safety law, and I ended up contesting it on the grounds that the entire thing was illegal—specifically, that there was absolutely no legal basis for moving my vehicle in the first place.🤷

Steven Reed said:I went ahead and paid the fine—but only because the notice explicitly stated that filing an appeal wouldn't stop the collection process. I also took a look at Articles 84, 85, and 86 of the traffic safety law, and I ended up contesting it on the grounds that the entire thing was illegal—specifically, that there was absolutely no legal basis for moving my vehicle in the first place.🤷

If you already paid the fine, then filing that appeal was pretty much a waste of time...

crimsonsailor7 said:If you already paid the fine, then filing that appeal was pretty much a waste of time...

And if I hadn't paid—would they just let those interest rates pile up indefinitely??? 😕

That’s just a fee to cover the cost of moving the vehicle, not a fine for breaking the law. Filing an appeal against the relocation fee won't stop the fine from being collected. You have to appeal the actual citation to stop that. They are two separate things.

Alright, I think we’ve pretty much covered the whole spider thing...
Steven Reed, if you’ve got questions about those traffic safety laws, there’s actually a specific thread for all that, so maybe just keep it over there...

So, you ended up with two pieces of paperwork. Just my luck, right? Typical.

So, I just got hit with one of those Department of Justice citations—you know, one of those annoying little tickets for a minor violation. Honestly, it’s just another way for them to reach into your pocket for no reason. It’s always the same story with these things; they find some tiny technicality, slap you with a fine, and suddenly you're out a few hundred bucks just because you were breathing the wrong way near a patrol car. Just my luck, really. Typical bureaucracy at its finest.$133 I think you nailed it—honestly, sounds about right to me.
So, I was looking into this whole mess with the parking fees in New York City—specifically that ridiculous charge they slap on you when they have to move your car around. It’s just one more way the city finds to reach into your pocket, isn't it? Honestly, it feels like a total shakedown. You park your car, follow all the rules, and then suddenly you're getting hit with a bill just because the city decided your spot was needed for some street sweeping or whatever nonsense they're up to that day. It’s pretty cynical when you think about it. They aren't even doing it for "safety" or "efficiency"—it's clearly just a revenue grab at this point. You pay for the permit, you pay for the space, and then you pay again just because they moved your vehicle from Point A to Point B. It’s exhausting. Every time I deal with these kinds of local regulations, I feel like I’m being nickel-and-dimed by a system that doesn't actually care about the people living in it. Just another day in the grind, I guess.$167)

So, I was looking at this citation today—it’s basically the "choose your own adventure" version of a fine—and it pretty much boils down to: either cough up the cash or file an appeal. Real sophisticated stuff right there. I've got a bone to pick with this. Honestly, it’s just another example of how things are being handled lately—completely backwards if you ask me. It feels like we're just spinning our wheels while everyone else moves on, and frankly, I'm tired of seeing the same patterns repeat without anyone actually stepping up to fix them. It’s frustrating, it’s predictable, and it’s exactly why I’m putting this objection on the record.
If you haven't actually broken any rules, NYC Parking can basically do whatever the hell they want when it comes to those towing fees—it’s a total racket.
Look, don't go mixing up an objection with a formal appeal. They aren't even in the same ballpark. When you’re filing an objection, what you're actually saying is that the judge completely missed the mark on the facts—basically, they got the story wrong. Now, sure, a judge might actually listen and side with you, but they can also just toss it out entirely, leaving you with zero right to appeal that specific decision. It's a bit of a gamble, really.
So, an obligatory citation is basically just a Department of Justice document where the text kicks off with "the accused..."—and then goes on to claim the FBI is at fault. It’s straight-up judicial interference rather than actual police work. Honestly, it really gives you a clear picture of exactly what kind of place we’re living in.😠

I misspoke—I actually filed an appeal claiming the fine was legally baseless. Instead, I just got hit with a bill for the towing fee, so Katherine, I’m with you on this one. Feel free to bail.
I did everything by the book, really—thanks for the advice 😉