[NJDriver]

No worries my friend! What you received was a parking ticket and Im not sure but I think its 54 dollars.
https://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/mcs/svbs_9-04/part1_b_c.pdf

I know it was a very uncomfortable experience, but the PAPD was acting like the meter maid in Hoboken. Actually, parking tickets in Hoboken are much greater.

Uber may or may not pay this. Just tell them they were harassing you. You presented all your documents and were nice to them. They gave you a stiff warning and wrote you a parking ticket. In any event, its the cost of doing business at the airport. I just got this ticket myself. I was surfing the web, which goes against my very own advice, and not paying attention. They pounced. When you are at the airport, turn off the radio, dont surf, but be very alert and move quickly when you see the officer. The moment you glimpse that uniform you should reflexively move move move. Do not think. Hit the gas.

The officers at the airport do not hide, but they will move in and out of the area quickly. It is your responsibility to get out of their way and not to attempt pickup or dropoff in front of them. You cant stand in front of them. You deserve the ticket if you dont move when you see them or you get distracted and they pounce.

In any event, I am getting my TLC plates and license so I can legally do business at the airport and all they can give me is the no standing ticket. I wouldnt mind getting that ticket every once in a while if I can pull 300 a day from the airport.

 

[NJDriver]

BTW you did right by taking the ticket without debate. Had you debated or made a scene or resisted he would have come up with more tickets. Gotten his buddies to sweat you. The PACops are not honest officers, but wild west cops. Its their town. Smile, say you have no questions and leave. Dont contest it. Waste more time in court to find out its legit.

 

[NJDriver]

If it does or it doesnt it wont count towards insurance premium or points. I have lots of Hoboken and NYC tickets as well as toll violations. I still have good driver discount. Everyone gets parking tickets.

 

[NJDriver]

"Parking" is when you leave the car, "Standing" means you are behind the wheel while stopped waiting.

 

[NJDriver]

I looked it up. It does say "stop, stand or park"
http://www.njlaws.com/39-4-135.html

So this wont go on the abstract because it is a parking ticket. I have my yellow ticket copy right here in front of me an on mine they circled "Park". Lets say you challenged it just like you said. You would spend gas, tolls, and time getting there. You would be standing right next to people who did real crimes, a rough bunch. Since you wouldnt be attorney represented they would put you at the end of the line and make you wait. You would talk to the prosecutor and they might swing you a deal...but this is only $54. In that time, you could be circling around Hoboken and made back the $54.

Send it to Uber and see if they will reimburse you. Tell Uber the cop was harassing you and asking if you are an Uber drive. They couldnt find anything so they wrote you a parking ticket.

 

[NJDriver]

It might be a bad ticket. You might be able to get it dismissed, but like I said, is it worth it for $54?

 

[NJDriver]

I know and Ive been to that Newark court for the no left turn ticket. Ultimately, the ticket was thrown out, but I had to go three times and a visit to the city engineers office. Each time I went back, I spent at least 4 hours in there looking at other cases. The attorney represented cases went first and I saw a lot of guys get out of their tickets with a good attorney. One guy got out of like 5 different tickets because the cop didnt show up. So just a heads up of what you can expect challenging that 54 dollar parking ticket.

 

[NJDriver]

The arrival areas have become a "no go" zone. Even if I was going to pick up a friend or family member from the airport for free, I would park in short term parking and go and get them to avoid any misunderstandings. I can imagine there have been some misunderstandings of regular non-Uber people picking up their friends and family. Probably a few people end up in court arguing they are not Uber. The cops have been coming in earlier and at unexpected times with strength and aggression. The departure areas are a bit more relaxed although there are police present at times. You can just go ahead and assume the Port Authority cops are looking and they know what to look for.

I do think part of the reason they are doing this is because the taxis are on their last leg. The airport is a business and the taxis pay to be at the airport either through pre-negotiated amounts to the Port Authority in a legit manner or under the counter in white envelopes to the authority's leadership (bribes). The airport taxis seem to be many years old. broken down and with very questionable drivers. I also think there are legitimate safety and terrorism concerns. It seems very dangerous to have this amount of cars stopped waiting. I think one day they might do away with the curbside drop/pickup and just use the short term parking area for that purpose. Its impossible to safeguard the airport from a car bomb how its designed now and I dont think a terrorist would be scared away by the officers ticket book.