White Plains Doubles Parking Grace Period To 12 Minutes Citywide

WHITE PLAINS, NY — No need to rush. Parking enforcement officers are now showing a little more grace in one Westchester County city.

White Plains drivers now have more time to get back to their cars before facing a parking ticket. The city's Department of Parking & Traffic has extended the parking grace period from six minutes to 12 minutes at all municipal parking locations, effective immediately, according to the city.

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The new policy means a 12-minute grace period begins once a parking session expires. During that time, parking enforcement officers can see that a vehicle is still within the grace period and cannot issue a ticket until the full 12 minutes have elapsed, according to the city. The change applies to on-street meters, eight municipal garages and 23 surface lots, covering more than 13,000 spaces.

The city said the added time is meant to give drivers more flexibility when appointments run long or delays come up. It applies whether parking is paid through the Park White Plains app, at a pay station, or with coins at the meter. Time-limited spaces are included, so a driver who pays for a maximum one-hour stay would still get an extra 12 minutes before a ticket could be issued.

"Our residents and visitors often experience unexpected delays," Mayor Justin Brasch said. "We heard these concerns and want to make parking in our city easier for all. This 12-minute grace period will ease some of the pressure and cost of parking."

According to the city, White Plains is one of the few municipalities in Westchester that offers a parking grace period, and the city now has one of the longest grace periods in the region.

The city also took the opportunity to remind drivers of its current parking rules. Parking garages and surface lots require payment at all times on all days. On-street meters require payment Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the downtown area, and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. outside downtown.

White Plains officials also pointed drivers to the Park White Plains system, which covers every municipal parking space. The app allows users to start, extend, and manage parking sessions without returning to their vehicles. Pay stations in lots and garages accept coins, bills, MasterCard and VISA, and the machines dispense change and receipts.

More information about metered parking is available through the City of White Plains here.