Got a ticket on 2nd Ave in the 80s the other night—No Stopping zone, except the sign wasn't visible because the whole block has one of those ConEd/AT&T scaffold wraps and the sign is basically swallowed up behind plywood and a banner. I only stopped for like six minutes to run a bag to my aunt’s walkup, and I took pics before I left showing the sign is totally hidden unless you're already under the scaffolding.

My question: is 'the sign wasn’t visible' still a thing? I remember years ago DOT would sometimes toss these if there was no clear signage, but I don’t know if the city got stricter. I already marked not guilty on the app and uploaded a couple photos. Not sure I trust a hearing officer to care.

Anyone actually beat one of these? Do I need more than photos—like a shot of the address, the meter, the whole block? Not trying to waste a morning for a small-ish ticket, but also the principle of it is annoying.

Wait, I always thought if the sign is blocked you automatically get it dismissed! I got my first parking ticket last month for being too close to a hydrant and just paid it because I didn’t know you could fight online. How long did they give you for a hearing? Is it like a Zoom thing now or do you have to go downtown? Also do you have to include the original ticket number when you upload photos? Sorry for all the questions lol, this city is a whole class.

Also see this earlier thread Window AC drip wars: do I knock on the upstairs door or just rig my own fix? because it has similar advice about taking photos before you move the car and not just after the fact. But for this one: the key with a hidden sign is not just the sign itself—it's whether the regulation is posted on another sign on the block and whether the curb markings tell the same story! If the street has the standard alternating-side or No Stopping signs at both ends, the adjudicator may say you should’ve looked for the next sign. But if the whole block is wrapped and the only No Stopping sign is the one behind the scaffold post, that's a much better argument! Have you checked Google Street View to see if the sign was visible in recent months? Sometimes that helps show it used to be exposed and then disappeared when construction went up. Did you get a pic from the driver's seat line of sight? That matters too!

I'm new to this—do they really look at the photos? I did a hearing once for a street cleaning ticket and the officer's photo was just a close-up of my plate, no sign at all, but they still found me guilty. Maybe I didn't take enough pictures. EastHarlem_E, did you take a wide shot that shows the car and the blocked sign in the same frame? I'd love to know if that actually helps. Also can you resubmit better photos later or are you locked into what you uploaded?

Beth, I took one wide shot from across the street before I pulled off, but the sign is totally blocked by the construction wrap—you can only see the pole and a corner of the metal. I'm not locked in yet I think? The app said you can add evidence up until a couple days before the hearing. greenpoint_guy, good call on Google Street View. I checked and it's not much better because the scaffolding is in the latest capture too lol. I'll still try. Honestly leaning toward just showing up on the call and seeing if the officer even has a photo. If they don't, maybe I get lucky.

EastHarlem_E, I’ve been through a few of these and the answer is genuinely case-by-case, but you can improve your odds. The hearing officers do consider whether the sign was visible from a reasonable parking position, but they also treat signs on the same block as notice. So the first thing to check is whether there is another No Stopping sign within the same block or at the corner. If there is, and it’s unobstructed, the officer may say you should have seen that one. If not, you have a stronger argument.

Documents that help:

• A wide shot showing your car, the empty pole, and the blocked sign or construction wrap.
• A closer shot of the exact place where the sign should be, with the ticket notice visible if you can.
• A daylight photo and a nighttime photo, because visibility can change under construction lighting.
• A Google Street View capture or your own earlier photo, if it shows the sign before the scaffold was installed.

At the hearing, keep it simple: 'I stopped here thinking it was unregulated because the only sign on this side was hidden by the construction shed; I moved as soon as I saw the pole.' Don’t say you left the car unattended if the charge includes standing—stick to 'I was actively loading/unloading' only if true. If you lose at the first level, you can appeal administratively, but that’s extra time, and sometimes the safest play is to ask for a reduction if you can’t get a dismissal.

Small note: if this was a camera notice or a metered zone, different standards apply, so don’t blindly use a 'sign hidden' defense for every ticket.