Parking Tickets: The Orange Envelope of Doom Under Your Windshield

The Orange Envelope of Doom

There are few sights more gut-wrenching in New Orleans than returning to your car and seeing a bright orange envelope tucked under the windshield wiper. That envelope contains a parking ticket, and depending on what you did — or what the city decided you did — it's going to cost you anywhere from $35 to well over $150. Park on a parade route during Mardi Gras? That's the premium rate, plus the possibility that your car has been towed to an impound lot in a part of town you've never visited and hope to never visit again.

The frustration isn't just the money. It's the feeling that the system is rigged — which, in fairness, it sometimes is. Parking instruction signs in New Orleans are frequently hidden behind tree branches, obscured by other signs, contradicted by other signs, or simply nonexistent. You park in what appears to be a perfectly legal spot, walk away with a clear conscience, and return two hours later to find that you've apparently violated a regulation that was posted on a sign you would have needed a machete and a ladder to read.

The Mardi Gras Special

Parking during Mardi Gras is its own special category of misery. Temporary no-parking zones materialize along parade routes, enforced with a zealousness that is otherwise absent from New Orleans city services. Tow trucks patrol like sharks. The combination of unclear signage, unfamiliar territory, and large crowds creates a perfect storm of parking violations that generates significant revenue for the city and significant profanity from everyone else.

The appeals process exists in theory and occasionally in practice. Some people contest their tickets and win. Some people contest their tickets and lose. Most people just pay the ticket and add it to the running mental tally of the cost of living in a city that is worth every frustration it inflicts upon you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Parking Tickets in New Orleans

How much are parking tickets in New Orleans?

Standard parking tickets range from $35 to over $150, with higher fines for parking on parade routes during Mardi Gras or in restricted zones.

Can I contest a parking ticket?

Yes. You can contest a ticket through the city's adjudication process, either in person or online. Bring photographic evidence if signage was obscured or missing.

How do I avoid getting towed during Mardi Gras?

Check temporary no-parking signage carefully along parade routes, which can go up days before a parade. When in doubt, park further from the route and walk.