NYC Violation Code 12: No Parking - Street Cleaning
Parking violation · $65 base fine · 5-stage penalty escalation
Fine Breakdown
Base Fine
$65
Maximum (before judgment)
$165
Penalty Escalation Timeline
Base Fine
$65
At issue
+$10 Late Penalty
$75
After 30 days
+$30 Late Penalty
$105
After 60 days
+$60 Late Penalty
$165
After 75 days
Judgment Entered
$165
After 90 days
Quick Tip
Check the DOT street cleaning schedule against the ticket time. If cleaning was suspended for a holiday or the posted sign times do not match the ticket, the ticket should be dismissed.
When this ticket gets issued
Code 12 applies when a vehicle is parked on a block during posted street cleaning hours. The base fine is $65. NYC's alternate-side parking program cleans residential streets typically once or twice a week on each side, with posted sweeper hours running 90 minutes to 3 hours. Enforcement begins at the posted start time and ends when the sweeper passes or the window closes. Fleet vehicles parked on the cleaning side during the window are ticketed. The schedule is suspended on specific holidays and during snow emergencies, and those suspensions are published in advance by DOT.
How to fight code 12
Vehicle was moved before posted street cleaning time
Produce telematics or a dashcam timestamp showing the vehicle left the cleaning side before the posted start time. Match the sign's exact hours. Even a few minutes of overlap defeats the defense. Photos of the sign showing the posted hours strengthen the submission.
Evidence to bring: written_account, photo_of_sign
Signs were missing, damaged, or obscured
Photograph the street cleaning sign from the driver's approach angle. Document any missing post, covered sign face, or conflicting sign with different hours. Blocks under active construction frequently have removed or obscured signs, which is a recognized defense ground.
Evidence to bring: photo_of_location, photo_of_sign
Driver was in the vehicle with engine running
Attach the driver's statement confirming they remained in the driver's seat with engine on. Street cleaning zones allow the vehicle to stand briefly with a driver present who moves on the sweeper's approach. Passenger affidavit or dashcam footage corroborates.
Evidence to bring: written_account
Vehicle was not at this location at the time
Pull telematics for the ticket timestamp. ASP blocks are highly specific, so a GPS fix on a different block or at the depot is usually conclusive.
Evidence to bring: written_account
Wrong plate number on the ticket
Verify plate and state character-by-character. Include plate photo and DMV registration. Flag transposed characters directly in the written account.
Evidence to bring: photo_of_plate, photo_of_registration
Ticket contains errors (wrong date, time, location, or vehicle description)
Verify body type, color, make, and cross streets. Also verify that the posted day matches the ticket day (e.g., Monday/Thursday vs Tuesday/Friday). A ticket written on a non-cleaning day is facially defective.
Evidence to bring: written_account
Frequently Asked Questions
Is street cleaning suspended for federal holidays that aren't NYC-specific?
NYC publishes its own ASP suspension calendar, which covers major federal holidays plus additional days (Good Friday, Shavuot, Asian Lunar New Year, Eid al-Fitr, and others). Not every federal holiday triggers suspension. Check nyc.gov/dot for the current calendar before relying on a suspension defense.
What if my driver was sitting in the truck when the sweeper came by?
If the driver remained in the vehicle with engine ready to move, the vehicle must move on the sweeper's approach. A driver who stayed in the truck but failed to move can still receive code 12. The occupancy defense works only when the driver actively moves out of the sweeper's path.
Can a commercial truck use a posted commercial-loading exception during ASP hours?
Some blocks have stacked signs that allow commercial loading during a narrow window even during ASP. Read every sign on the pole. If a commercial-loading exception covers the ticket timestamp, photograph the sign stack and submit with the active-loading defense — but the default is that ASP beats commercial loading on shared blocks.
What this means for commercial fleets
Street cleaning tickets are the highest-volume ticket in NYC by far, and fleets that park vehicles overnight on residential streets are the single largest recurring target. At $65 per ticket with tickets issued on most blocks twice a week, a 20-truck fleet scattered across residential parking can see $200+ in daily exposure on cleaning mornings. Mitigation is operational: move every truck off the cleaning side before the posted start time, subscribe to ASP suspension alerts, and use depot off-street parking whenever available.
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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 12 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.