NYC Violation Code 19: No Standing - Bus Stop
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
Verify the bus stop sign was properly posted. Temporary relocations or construction sometimes remove bus stop signage, which can support a defense.
When this ticket gets issued
Code 19 is issued for standing in an MTA bus stop. The base fine is $115. Bus stops are reserved 24 hours a day for MTA buses picking up and discharging passengers. They are marked with bus-stop signs and, usually, distinctive yellow curb paint or street markings. Enforcement is aggressive because blocked bus stops force buses to stop in the travel lane, delaying service. Commercial vehicles, passenger cars, and even taxis standing in a posted bus stop all receive the summons. There is no commercial-loading exception, no taxi exception, and no brief-stop exception. The only recognized defenses are emergency and sign/ticket defects.
How to fight code 19
Signs were missing, damaged, or obscured
Photograph the bus-stop sign from the driver's approach angle. Document missing poles, covered or graffiti'd signs, and any situation where the bus stop was relocated but the original sign remained. MTA route changes are published and can corroborate a sign-defect defense.
Evidence to bring: photo_of_location, photo_of_sign
Vehicle was responding to an emergency
Describe the emergency in a signed statement and attach a tow receipt, 911 log, or mechanical repair invoice. Bus-stop standing due to a genuine breakdown with contemporaneous documentation can succeed at hearing. General operational delays are not emergencies.
Evidence to bring: written_account
Vehicle was not at this location at the time
Pull telematics for the ticket timestamp. Bus stops are geographically precise, and a GPS trace showing the truck a block away is strong evidence.
Evidence to bring: written_account
Wrong plate number on the ticket
Verify plate and state character-by-character. Include a plate photo and DMV registration. Note any transposition 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 that the address corresponds to an active MTA bus stop on the ticket date. Relocated stops with outdated signs are a known defect source.
Evidence to bring: written_account
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there any delivery exception that lets my truck use a bus stop briefly?
No. Bus stops prohibit all non-bus standing at all times. Even a 30-second freight drop triggers the $115 fine. Commercial-loading, taxi, and hotel exceptions from other codes do not apply. Drivers should never use a marked bus stop regardless of how brief the delivery.
How can I tell if an MTA bus stop has been relocated?
MTA publishes route changes on its website and signs new stops in advance. If the posted sign does not correspond to an active bus route at the ticket location, photograph the sign and check MTA's route notice for the period. A ticket written at a stop that was no longer active is facially defective.
What if the bus stop sign was obscured by an MTA service advisory or construction?
A sign covered by a temporary advisory, scaffolding, or new construction supports the signs-missing defense. Photograph the covering as it existed on the ticket date. If the cover was removed before your return, archived street-view imagery or neighboring business testimony can corroborate.
What this means for commercial fleets
Bus stop tickets are common for last-mile fleets that shortcut curb space during high-traffic hours. At $115 with 24/7 enforcement and no loading exception, repeat offenders on a single route can accumulate hundreds of dollars weekly. The only mitigation is operational: dispatch must route around marked bus stops entirely, and drivers must be trained that a bus-stop sign — regardless of curb paint condition — is a hard no-go zone. Stage on the next block and walk the package in.
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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 19 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.