115 Reasons Why You Don't Want To Get A Parking Ticket In New York City

Matthew DeBord

I just moved back to New York after 10 years in Los Angeles.

Mostly, it's been great.

But today, I got my first taste of Manhattan's mean side. As you can see from this parking ticket, I now owe the city $115.

I've gotten speeding tickets for about that much before. But never a parking ticket. L.A. is the land of parking validations and valets. I went years between parking tickets. (And in L.A., the average parking ticket is a comparatively paltry $68).

I have no defense for my transgression. I just misinterpreted this sign:

Matthew DeBord

I have to say, though, that in a decade, it seems to me that it's become much, much harder to park in Manhattan.

And as far as some opponents of cars and automotive congestion in the city are concerned, that's probably a good thing.