NYC Violation Code 07: No Parking Near Fire Hydrant
Parking violation · $115 base fine · 5-stage penalty escalation
Fine Breakdown
Base Fine
$115
Maximum (before judgment)
$215
Penalty Escalation Timeline
Base Fine
$115
At issue
+$10 Late Penalty
$125
After 30 days
+$30 Late Penalty
$155
After 60 days
+$60 Late Penalty
$215
After 75 days
Judgment Entered
$215
After 90 days
Quick Tip
The 15-foot rule is measured from the nearest point of the hydrant to the nearest point of the vehicle. If the hydrant was obscured by snow, vegetation, or construction, photograph the conditions.
When this ticket gets issued
Code 07 is issued for parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant. The 15-foot distance is measured from the nearest point of the hydrant to the nearest point of the vehicle. The base fine is $115. Officers typically measure visually but will use a tape on contested blocks. The rule applies 24 hours a day regardless of hydrant paint or curb color. Fleet drivers often catch this ticket when urban curb space is tight and a hydrant is partially hidden by parked cars, scaffolding, snow, or foliage. An occupied vehicle with engine running has a narrow exception if the driver is ready to move immediately.
How to fight code 07
Driver was in vehicle, ready to move immediately
Collect the driver's statement confirming they were seated with the engine on and ready to move the moment a fire truck arrived. Add dashcam video or a passenger affidavit. The exception is narrow: the driver must have been actually in the driver's seat, not in the back or inside a delivery stop.
Evidence to bring: written_account
Vehicle was outside the 15-foot zone from the hydrant
Return to the location and measure from the hydrant's nearest point to the tire's closest point using a tape measure. Photograph the measurement with the tape visible. Reference the curb markings, pavement cracks, or adjacent signage as fixed reference points the hearing officer can verify.
Evidence to bring: photo_of_location, written_account
Hydrant was obscured by snow, vegetation, or construction
Photograph the hydrant at the time of return with the obstruction still visible. If cleared, document with timestamped images and describe the condition at the ticket time. Scaffolding, piled snow, or overgrown shrubbery that hid the hydrant from a driver of reasonable attention supports dismissal.
Evidence to bring: photo_of_location, written_account
Vehicle was not at this location at the time
Pull telematics for the ticket timestamp. Hydrant locations are easy to verify against city data, so a GPS trace placing the truck blocks away is direct and persuasive evidence.
Evidence to bring: written_account
Wrong plate number on the ticket
Verify the summons plate character-by-character against the registration. Include plate photo and DMV document. Attach both if the state code is also wrong.
Evidence to bring: photo_of_plate, photo_of_registration
Ticket contains errors (wrong date, time, location, or vehicle description)
Verify cross streets, body type, color, and make. Address errors are common when a hydrant sits near a block boundary. Also check that the summons describes the hydrant's side of the street correctly.
Evidence to bring: written_account
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 15-foot rule apply when a hydrant is on the opposite side of a one-way street?
The 15-foot rule measures from the hydrant regardless of street direction. If the hydrant is on the opposite curb of a two-way street, it does not apply to your side. On a one-way street, a hydrant on the far side still restricts the near curb within 15 feet of the hydrant's linear position.
What counts as the driver being present and ready to move for the occupancy exception?
The driver must be seated behind the wheel with the engine running or ready to start immediately. A driver in the passenger seat, in the cargo area, or inside a delivery stop does not qualify. Hearing officers treat this exception narrowly, so contemporaneous dashcam or passenger statements help.
Can I fight a code 07 ticket if snow completely buried the hydrant?
Yes. If snow, vegetation, or construction hid the hydrant from a reasonable driver's view, that is a recognized defense. Photograph the condition as soon as possible. If the snow melts before you return, reference NOAA weather data for the ticket date as corroboration.
What this means for commercial fleets
Hydrant tickets are a recurring $115 line item for fleets operating in dense residential neighborhoods where curb space is scarce. A DSP running a single Brooklyn route with three near-hydrant stops per day can accumulate $300+ in weekly exposure. The 15-foot rule is non-negotiable and applies 24/7. Fleet mitigation requires driver training on visual distance estimation, dashcams on all trucks to document the occupied-driver exception, and a dispatched rule that drivers never leave a truck unattended near a hydrant even for a one-minute delivery.
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Disclaimer: Clear Plates is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. The information on this page is general educational content about NYC violation code 07 and is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney. Defenses, evidence strategies, and hearing outcomes depend on facts specific to each ticket. For legal advice about a specific violation, consult a qualified attorney licensed in New York.