NYC Violation Code 59: Angle Parking
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
If the angle parking markings were faded or not visible, photograph the street. Unclear or missing pavement markings can support a defense that the parking orientation was not apparent.
When this ticket gets issued
Code 59 is issued when a vehicle is parked parallel in a spot marked for angle parking, or fails to observe the angle of the painted stalls. NYC has limited angle parking, mostly in outer-borough commercial strips and near some public facilities, so drivers accustomed to parallel parking often mis-read faded angle markings. The ticket is common where pavement lines have worn away but a posted sign still indicates angle parking. It also appears when drivers split two angle spaces or park backwards relative to the posted angle direction.
How to fight code 59
Angle parking markings were faded or not visible
Photograph the street from the driver's approach angle showing that the angle-parking paint was worn, covered by debris, or otherwise unreadable. For code 59, pavement markings and the posted angle-parking sign must together give a driver notice. If either was missing or unclear, the missing-signs defense has real weight.
Evidence to bring: photo_of_location, photo_of_sign
Ticket location does not match where vehicle was parked
Compare the summons block and cross street with your dispatch record and GPS trace. If your driver parked on a block where angle parking does not apply, the ticket is misaddressed. A clear parked-vehicle photo with a visible street sign in the same frame is strong location evidence for code 59.
Evidence to bring: photo_of_location, written_account
Vehicle was not at this location at the time
Produce GPS telematics or toll records placing the truck elsewhere at the ticket minute. For code 59 in the outer boroughs, a single data point from your fleet system showing the truck several blocks away generally resolves the dispute in your favor at hearing.
Evidence to bring: written_account
Wrong plate number on the ticket
Check the plate string and state on the summons against your registration. Angle-parking tickets are often written in busy outer-borough shopping strips with many commercial vehicles present; plate transposition happens. A mismatched character paired with a clean plate photo strongly supports dismissal.
Evidence to bring: photo_of_plate, photo_of_registration
Ticket contains errors (wrong date, time, location, or vehicle description)
Verify the listed street actually has angle parking, that the cross street intersects it, and that the vehicle make and color match your truck. Code 59 tickets written on streets that do not have angle-parking designations are straightforward defective-ticket dismissals.
Evidence to bring: written_account
Frequently Asked Questions
Where in NYC is angle parking typically found for code 59?
Angle parking exists in specific outer-borough commercial strips and near some civic buildings — parts of Queens Boulevard service roads, portions of Staten Island shopping streets, and select Bronx blocks. Manhattan almost never uses angle parking. Drivers who spend most time in Manhattan may not recognize angle-parking signage in unfamiliar areas.
Does parallel-parking in an angle spot actually get cited under code 59?
Yes. NYC requires vehicles to park in the orientation shown by pavement markings and signs. Parallel-parking in an angled stall is a common driver mistake that triggers code 59, especially on blocks where angle markings are faded and the parallel orientation looks natural at first glance.
What if we parked following another vehicle that was already there?
Following another driver's mistake is not a defense. Each vehicle is cited independently for its own orientation. The driver must check the posted angle-parking sign and pavement markings before leaving the vehicle, regardless of how nearby cars are oriented, to avoid code 59 exposure.
What this means for commercial fleets
Code 59 mostly affects fleets delivering to outer-borough shopping strips where angle parking is common but not obvious. At 65 dollars per summons, individual hits are modest, but repeated coaching failures add up. Where routes include angle-parking blocks, dispatch can flag them in the manifest so drivers know to expect the unusual layout. Drivers should default to reading posted signs and lines before parking, particularly outside Manhattan where parking geometry varies by block.
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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 59 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.