NYC Violation Code 27: No Parking Except Bikes
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
This space is designated for bicycle parking only. If the bike parking sign was missing, damaged, or not clearly visible, photograph the location to support your defense.
When this ticket gets issued
Code 27 is issued when a vehicle is parked in a space designated for bicycle parking only. These spaces are marked with signs and often painted pavement indicators, typically in commercial corridors and near schools, transit stations, or parks. The base fine is $65. While these are small curb cutouts, they can be mistaken for short loading gaps or motorcycle spaces. A commercial van that pulls into a bike parking zone, even briefly, receives Code 27. The enforcement officer does not need to prove the space was in use by bikes at the time of the ticket.
How to fight code 27
Signs were missing, damaged, or obscured
Photograph the curb area where the Code 27 ticket was written. If the bike parking sign was missing, turned the wrong direction, or hidden behind scaffolding, document the gap. Include pavement-level shots showing whether bike symbols were painted on the ground. Without clear signage a driver has no notice.
Evidence to bring: photo_of_location, photo_of_sign
Vehicle was not at this location at the time
Use telematics or dashcam records to show the vehicle was elsewhere when the Code 27 summons was written. Export the trip log for the ticket minute and compare with the street address on the summons. A written statement identifying the real location strengthens the submission.
Evidence to bring: written_account
Wrong plate number on the ticket
Compare the plate on the Code 27 summons to your DMV registration. Delivery vans clustered in commercial corridors often have similar-looking plate sequences. Attach a photo of the actual plate on the vehicle and the registration document to show the summons does not belong to this truck.
Evidence to bring: photo_of_plate, photo_of_registration
Ticket contains errors (wrong date, time, location, or vehicle description)
Review the Code 27 summons for any defect: wrong vehicle color, make, body type, time, or address. If the officer listed a passenger car when the vehicle is a commercial cargo van, or the ticket shows a cross street that does not match a bike parking zone, list each error in your statement.
Evidence to bring: written_account
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Code 27 apply if no bicycles were present when I parked?
Yes. Code 27 is about the signed designation of the space, not whether bikes are currently using it. The restriction is a full prohibition on motor vehicle parking in that zone, regardless of occupancy or time of day. Only clear signage or pavement-marking failures support a defense.
What if the bike parking zone was only marked with paint, not a sign?
NYC relies primarily on signage for enforcement. If the pavement paint was the only indicator and no sign was posted, photograph the full curb and both approaches. A missing-sign argument under SIGNS_MISSING is the strongest path to dismissal for a zone marked only by faded paint.
How do I keep drivers from confusing bike zones with loading zones?
Build a known-zone list of bike parking cutouts along your delivery routes. Most are short curb segments, often near intersections. Train drivers that any sign showing a bike symbol with the word Parking reserves the curb for bicycles only, regardless of length. Routing tools can mark these for avoidance.
What this means for commercial fleets
Code 27 tickets are low-fine ($65) but high-frequency in bike-heavy corridors like the East Village, Williamsburg, and Long Island City. A courier fleet running 50 vehicles through these neighborhoods can see dozens per month. The cost accumulates silently because the fine is small enough to fly under escalation alerts. Capture Code 27 clusters in your dashboard, train repeat-offender drivers, and update routing software to flag bike parking zones so drivers are rerouted before pulling to the curb.
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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 27 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.