NYC Violation Code 20: No Parking - Day/Time Limits
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 if the sign was missing, damaged, or contradicted by another sign nearby. Conflicting signage is a strong defense at hearings.
When this ticket gets issued
Code 20 is issued for parking in violation of a general no-parking sign with posted day or time limits. The base fine is $65. These signs appear throughout all five boroughs and typically restrict parking during specified hours (e.g., weekdays 8 AM to 6 PM) or specific days of the week. Enforcement runs during the posted hours only. Vehicles left during the restricted window are ticketed regardless of whether a driver returns to move them. Multiple overlapping signs are common, so drivers must read every sign on the pole to determine the binding restriction at the ticket time.
How to fight code 20
Signs were missing, damaged, or obscured
Photograph the no-parking sign from the driver's approach angle. Document any missing pole, covered sign face, graffiti, or conflicting signs on the same post. Conflicting signs with different hour windows are a recognized defense ground in NYC.
Evidence to bring: photo_of_location, photo_of_sign
Driver was in the vehicle with engine running
Attach a driver's statement confirming they remained in the driver's seat with engine on and ready to move. No-parking (as opposed to no-standing) allows brief standing with a driver present. Dashcam footage or a passenger affidavit corroborates.
Evidence to bring: written_account
Vehicle was not at this location at the time
Pull telematics for the ticket timestamp. General no-parking blocks are precisely mapped, so a GPS trace on a different street is usually enough.
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. Flag any character transposition directly in the written statement.
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 confirm the ticket time falls within the posted hours. A ticket written outside the sign's window is facially defective.
Evidence to bring: written_account
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between no-parking and no-standing in NYC?
No-parking allows a vehicle to stand briefly with a driver present and engine running. No-standing (various codes) prohibits the vehicle from standing at all except for immediate passenger loading. Code 20 is the milder no-parking restriction; no-standing codes carry higher fines ($115 vs $65).
What if two no-parking signs on the same pole show different hours?
Conflicting signs with inconsistent hours are a recognized defense ground. Photograph every sign on the pole from the driver's approach. If the hours overlap in a way that makes the restriction ambiguous, submit all photos together and note the conflict explicitly in the written statement.
Does commercial plates alone allow parking in a code 20 no-parking zone?
No. Commercial plates do not override a general no-parking restriction. The commercial-vehicle exception applies only in specifically posted commercial-loading zones (codes 03, 09, 17). A commercial truck parked in a general no-parking zone during restricted hours still receives the $65 fine.
What this means for commercial fleets
General no-parking tickets hit fleets that stage trucks on cross streets during business hours. At $65 per ticket, the per-summons cost is manageable but repeat exposure across a fleet staging multiple vehicles on the same block can add up to hundreds per day. Mitigation is operational: require drivers to read every sign on every pole before leaving a vehicle, use depot off-street parking when available, and audit telematics for dwell times in mapped no-parking zones during their restricted hours.
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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 20 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.