On the ticket this prints as: NO PARKING-STREET CLEANING
Parked during posted street-cleaning (alternate side) hours. New York's most famous ticket.
25.9%
of contested cases are dismissed outright — and 38.7% end dismissed or reduced. From 1,772,988 decided hearings in the city's own records.
Is it worth fighting?
About a quarter of contested street-cleaning tickets are dismissed. The wins cluster around suspended alternate-side days, missing or contradictory signs, being IN the car ready to move, and sign poles stripped by construction.
What actually wins
Alternate side parking was SUSPENDED that day (holidays, weather, city announcements — check the date)
The signs on that block were missing, obscured, or contradictory — photograph the whole blockface, both ends
You were in the vehicle and prepared to move (commonly argued; outcomes vary by officer)
The sweeper had already passed and posted hours were over / not yet begun per the ticket's own time
Evidence to gather
Photos of every sign on the blockface (or their absence)
NYC's alternate-side suspension calendar for the date
Dashcam/phone timestamps
The ticket's stated time vs posted hours
Fighting it is free. New York lets you dispute online, by mail, or in person — no fee, no lawyer required, decision from a hearing officer. Start at nyc.gov → Dispute a ticket. Check the response deadline printed on your ticket, and answer before it to avoid late penalties.