New York parking rules undergo major change as city hit by huge snowstorm
A New York parking rule has been halted after the state saw its first major snowfall of the season.
Up to eight inches of the white stuff was recorded in Long Island and neighboring New Jersey, while Queens recorded up to 4.6 inches, as per the Weather Channel.
The heavy snowfall wreaked havoc on daily life, forcing airport delays and school closures.
Power outages were also triggered in cities across some Northeastern states.
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With all this going on, the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) suspended a particular parking rule affecting commuters.
The usual Alternate Side Parking (ASP) regulations were temporarily scrapped on Monday (December 15) and again today (December 16).
The law means that only one side of the street can be parked on during specific days or times, usually to allow street sweepers, snowplows or maintenance crews to clear the roads.
The City of New York website explains: "ASP rules are posted on signs with a 'P' crossed by a broom and indicate the days and times parking isn’t allowed.
"When ASP is in effect, you can’t park on the side of the street that is being cleaned."
It adds: "The rules apply for the entire time posted on the sign, even if a street sweeper has passed."
Drivers who break the rule would ordinarily be hit with a fine between $45 and $65, depending on the borough.
ASP rules were suspended on Monday and Tuesday, however, to facilitate snow clearing operations, the NYC DOT explained.
This means drivers can park on both sides of the designated roads without risking a fine.
Other parking laws, such as pay meters, resident permits and time limits, still apply, though.
ASP rules are expected to return to normal on Wednesday (December 17).
To stay informed on citywide emergency updates, check out the NY3 331 portal, or text NOTIFYNYC to 692-692 to get information straight to your phone.
When else are ASP laws suspended?
Adverse weather conditions aren't the only times ASP is suspended.
For numerous days of the year - in next year's case, 42 - the rule is paused, in the name of legal and religious holidays.
The next one will be Christmas Day, followed by New Year's Day and then Three Kings' Day on January 6.
The rest of the scheduled suspended ASP days for 2026 are as follows:
- Monday, January 19 for Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday
- Thursday, February 12 for Lincoln's Birthday
- Monday, February 16 for Washington's Birthday (President's Day) and Lunar New Year's Eve
- Tuesday, February 17 for Lunar New Year
- Wednesday, February 18 for Ash Wednesday and Losar (Tibetan New Year)
- Tuesday, March 3 for Purim
- Friday, March 20 for Idul-Fitr (Eid Al-Fitr)
- Saturday, March 21 for Idul-Fitr (Eid Al-Fitr)
- Thursday, April 2 for Holy Thursday
- Friday, April 3 for Good Friday
- Thursday, April 2 for Passover
- Friday, April 3 for Passover
- Wednesday, April 8 and Thursday, April 9 for Passover (7th/8th Days)
- Thursday, April 9 for Holy Thursday (Orthodox)
- Friday, April 10 for Good Friday (Orthodox)
- Thursday, May 14 for Solemnity of the Ascension
- Friday, May 22 and Saturday May 23 for Shavuoth
- Monday, May 25 for Memorial Day
- Wednesday, May 27 for Idul-Adha (Eid Al-Adha)
- Thursday, May 28 for Idul-Adha (Eid Al-Adha)
- Friday, June 19 for Juneteenth
- Friday, July 3 for Independence Day
- Saturday, July 4 for Independence Day
- Thursday, July 23 for Tisha B'Av
- Saturday, August 15 for Feast of the Assumption
- Monday, September 7 for Labor Day
- Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13 for Rosh Hashanah
- Monday, September 21 for Yom Kippur
- Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27 for Succoth
- Saturday, October 3 for Shemini Atzereth
- Sunday, October 4 for Simchas Torah
- Monday, October 12 for Columbus Day
- Sunday, November 1 for All Saints' Day
- Tuesday, November 3 for Election Day
- Sunday, November 8 for Diwali
- Wednesday, November 11 for Veterans Day
- Thursday, November 26 for Thanksgiving Day
- Tuesday, December 8 for Immaculate Conception
- Friday, December 25 for Christmas Day
Ellie Kemp