SIGN, SIGN, EVERYWHERE A SIGN — Hoboken Finally Moves to Revamp Temporary No Parking Sign Policy

Any seasoned area driver will tell you—if you see an open parking spot on a Hoboken Street, your first instinct should be suspicion…

More often than not, there’s a temporary no parking sign holding that space open. Typically used for moving vans or contractors, the temporary no parking (TNP) sign has sunk the hearts of many Hoboken residents looking for a place to put their car.

Meanwhile, the sudden appearance of those signs on the street has led to cars being towed without even knowing they were in violation.

After years of complaints on its policies regarding TNP signs, the City of Hoboken has enacted changes as of July 22.

Most significantly, the TNP signs may need to be purchased and posted further in advance.

TNP signs for any function other than construction activity, official City business, public safety, or emergencies must be purchased a minimum of eight days in advance (for permit parking zones) in person at the HPU customer service window or a minimum of 10 days in advance through HPU Online so that they can be posted by HPU seven days before the TNP signs go into effect. TNP signs for construction activity and official City business must be purchased a minimum of three days in advance (for permit parking zones) at the HPU customer service window or seven days in advance through HPU online.

This policy change, approved by City Council earlier this Spring, was put into place to curtail incidents of cars being towed on short notice.

Meanwhile, the policy also looks to minimize the impact of the substantial home construction/renovation projects underway in Hoboken.

Residential contractors will be limited to two TNP signs per location, per day. Customers purchasing TNP signs for dumpsters may only purchase a maximum of three TNP signs per dumpster location per day.

Of course when circling the block looking for parking, drivers seldom have time to read the fine print. The issue of old/expired signs can complicate an already arduous parking quest in Hoboken.

Fines for not removing TNP signs after they have expired: customers who purchase TNP signs will also be responsible for removing them after they expire. If TNP signs are still posted more than two hours after the TNP signs have expired, the purchaser will be subject to a $45 fine per TNP sign.

As of July 22, 2019, new fees for each TNP sign will be:

4hrs: $15
8hrs: $25
12hrs: $40
24hrs: $60

Good luck out there…

***