You’re staring at that red and white sign. It says no parking on Thursdays from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM. It’s Thursday. You’re tired, you just found a "legal" spot, and the last thing you want to do is circle the block for forty minutes like a shark hunting for a very specific, asphalt-flavored snack. So, you ask the million-dollar question: is alternate side in effect today?
Honestly, in New York City, the answer changes faster than the weather at Rockaway Beach.
If you’re looking for the quick "yes" or "no," the baseline rule is that Alternate Side Parking (ASP) is active unless the City specifically suspends it for a holiday or a weather emergency. Today, January 15, 2026, is a standard Thursday. Unless there's a surprise "snow globe" situation hitting the five boroughs as we speak, or a localized emergency declared by the Department of Transportation (DOT), the sweepers are likely out. You’ve gotta move that car.
The Rules Have Changed (And Not Everyone Realized It)
For a while there, we had it easy. During the height of the pandemic, the city moved to a "once-a-week" rule that felt like a gift from the heavens. If a street had ASP twice a week, they only swept on the latest day. Those days are gone. They've been gone.
Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and the DOT moved back to full-force sweeping a couple of years ago because, frankly, the streets were getting disgusting. Rat sightings went up. Trash piles started migrating. Now, if the sign says Tuesday and Friday, you better be ready for both Tuesday and Friday.
Living in NYC means playing a constant game of chess with the Department of Sanitation (DSNY). If you see a broom icon on a sign, that’s your cue. Most people think ASP is just about cleaning, but it’s secretly one of the city’s biggest revenue generators. A standard ASP ticket will set you back $65 in most Manhattan neighborhoods (below 96th Street) and $60 in the other boroughs. It’s a steep price for a nap.
Why ASP Might Be Suspended (The "Get Out of Jail Free" Cards)
There are dozens of reasons why the city might give us a break. Religious holidays are the big ones. We’re talking everything from Purim and Ash Wednesday to Idul-Fitr and Diwali.
Then there’s the weather.
Snow is the obvious one. When the DSNY needs to pivot from sweeping to plowing, ASP is the first thing to go. But here’s the kicker: just because ASP is suspended doesn’t mean parking meters are. I’ve seen so many people get nailed by this. They hear "Alternate Side is suspended" on the news and think it’s a free-for-all. Nope. You still have to feed the Green Machine if you’re in a metered zone.
The Strategy: How Not to Get Towed
Check the 311 Twitter (now X) feed. It is the only source that matters in real-time. They usually post the status for the next day by 4:00 PM. If you’re waiting until 8:00 AM the morning of, you’re already behind.
I know people who literally schedule their lives around the "double-park dance." You know the one. You sit in your car for 90 minutes, waving at the sweeper as it swerves around you, and then you just... stay there. Technically, it’s still illegal to double-park during those hours, even if you’re in the car. Most cops will give you a pass if they see you behind the wheel, but if a traffic agent is having a bad day? That’s a $65 gamble.
Major Holidays Where ASP is Historically Suspended:
- New Year’s Day
- Three Kings’ Day
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Coming up soon!)
- Lincoln’s Birthday
- Presidents' Day
- Good Friday
- Passover (First two and last two days)
- Memorial Day
- Juneteenth
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Rosh Hashanah
- Yom Kippur
- Columbus Day
- Election Day
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
What Happens if You Guess Wrong?
If you guessed wrong and is alternate side in effect today turns out to be a "yes," you’re looking at more than just a ticket. If your car is blocking a major thoroughfare or if the city is doing "heavy" cleaning or construction, they might tow you.
Getting your car out of the pound at Pier 76 or the Bronx impound lot is a special kind of hell. It’s expensive, it takes all day, and the people there are not interested in your excuses about how you "thought it was a religious holiday."
The city’s 2026 budget has actually leaned harder into enforcement. We’ve seen a 12% increase in the frequency of traffic agents patrolling residential blocks in Queens and Brooklyn compared to three years ago. They aren't playing around.
The 2026 "Clean Curbs" Initiative
Lately, the city has been testing out these "containerized" trash bins. You might have seen them taking up a parking spot or two on your block. This is part of a broader push to get trash bags off the sidewalk. While it’s great for the rat problem, it’s making the "is alternate side in effect today" question even more stressful because there are simply fewer spots to move into.
📖 Related: News La Verne CA: What Most People Get Wrong
Some neighborhoods in Upper Manhattan have started a pilot program where ASP is suspended permanently on certain blocks in exchange for residents managing their own trash containers. It’s a mess right now. If you see those grey bins, read the temporary signage very carefully.
Actionable Steps for the NYC Driver
Don't just wing it. If you own a car in this city, you need a system.
- Download the NYC 311 App: Set up push notifications specifically for ASP. It will ping you the second a suspension is announced.
- Follow @NYCASP on Social Media: This is the official feed. If they haven't posted a suspension, assume the sweepers are coming for you.
- Check the 2026 Legal Calendar: The DOT publishes a PDF every year listing every single scheduled suspension. Print it. Stick it on your fridge.
- The "Neighbor" Check: If you look out your window at 8:30 AM and every single car on the "wrong" side of the street is gone, don't be the lone holdout. Even if you think you're right, the "herd" usually knows when the tickets are coming.
- Verify the Meter: Remember, ASP suspension does NOT equal meter suspension. If you're in a commercial zone or at a muni-meter, keep paying.
The reality of NYC parking is that it's a part-time job. You either pay with your time by sitting in the car, or you pay with your money to a garage. Or, if you're lucky, you check the status, find out it's a holiday you've never heard of, and go back to sleep.