NYC Violation Code 91: No Parking - Vacancy Sign
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
If the vacancy sign was not clearly posted or was obstructed, photograph the location. This violation is related to commercial signage regulations and may have specific exemptions.
When this ticket gets issued
Code 91 is issued when a vehicle is parked in violation of a posted vacancy sign — typically a commercial signage zone or a designated no-parking area tied to a specific business or display-sign regulation. These zones exist to keep frontage clear for certain commercial signage activities or to protect vacancy-related enforcement for a particular address. Officers write this code when a vehicle occupies the restricted curb. Fleet drivers can receive this ticket when parking near business frontage where the restriction is poorly marked or locally understood but not clearly signed to outsiders.
How to fight code 91
Signs were missing, damaged, or obscured
Photograph the frontage showing no vacancy sign or a sign that is knocked down, faded, covered by other materials, or positioned where a driver could not reasonably see it. This code depends entirely on posted notice, so a missing or obscured sign is a complete defense.
Evidence to bring: photo_of_location, photo_of_sign
Vehicle was not at this location at the time
Submit GPS or dispatch records showing the truck was not at the cited address during the ticket window. If telematics places the vehicle elsewhere, the officer ticketed the wrong plate and the summons is invalid.
Evidence to bring: written_account
Wrong plate number on the ticket
Verify the transcribed plate against your registration. Code 91 is a rare citation, and officers writing unfamiliar codes are more likely to make data-entry errors. A plate mismatch voids the ticket without reaching the underlying sign question.
Evidence to bring: photo_of_plate, photo_of_registration
Ticket contains errors (wrong date, time, location, or vehicle description)
Code 91 is unusual, so demand the officer's narrative specify what vacancy sign was violated. Vague citations without identifying the specific sign or regulation are defective. Cross-check vehicle description and location details.
Evidence to bring: written_account
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a vacancy sign look like for code 91 purposes?
There is no single standard appearance. Vacancy signs are usually business-specific signage marking a curb as reserved for a commercial purpose — a display zone, a delivery-only zone, or a specific address reservation. If a sign is posted, it should clearly state the restriction. Vague or unmarked signs support a missing-sign defense.
My driver parked for two minutes to grab a coffee — is code 91 really defensible?
Duration alone is not a defense, but missing or obscured signage is. Code 91 enforcement depends on clear notice. If the frontage had no visible sign, photograph the scene and attach to the dispute. Many code 91 tickets are dismissed when the photographic evidence shows no clear restriction sign.
Is code 91 common or is this likely a mistake?
Code 91 is uncommon. If you received one, review the officer's narrative carefully. These citations often reflect niche local restrictions that are poorly signed. Dispute with photographs and location details. Hearing officers tend to scrutinize rare codes more closely, which works in your favor.
What this means for commercial fleets
Code 91 is rare enough that most fleets will not see it across a year, but when it appears, the $115 fine and unfamiliar enforcement basis make it worth disputing every time. Flag any code 91 in the fleet ticketing system for manual review — hearing officers unfamiliar with the code sometimes dismiss on procedural grounds if the summons narrative is thin.
Related violation codes
Track violation codes across your entire fleet
Clear Plates identifies every violation code, monitors penalty escalation deadlines, and alerts you before fines increase.
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 91 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.