NYC violation code guide

Violation Code 5: Bus lane violation

Code 5 means the vehicle was driven in, parked in, or blocked a designated bus lane during its hours of operation. Many code 5 tickets are camera-issued from fixed cameras or bus-mounted cameras.

Dismissal figures: NYC Department of Finance, FY2025 (appeal stage). A historical rate across all appeals — not a promise about your ticket.

What the fine and exposure actually are

The fine for code 5 is $250 everywhere in NYC. This ticket is typically camera-issued to the registered owner and carries no license points. The exposure that surprises people is what stacks on top: late penalties of +$10 at 30 days, +$20 at 60 days, and +$30 at 90 days — a $250 ticket left alone for three months carries $60 in penalties alone. At around 100 days the unpaid ticket enters judgment, and once a vehicle's judgment debt reaches $350, it can be booted — and towed within 48 hours of booting.

What contesting a code 5 ticket involves

You dispute a parking or camera ticket with the NYC Department of Finance — online through the city's dispute portal, by mail, or in person — and the city takes 30–60 days to rule. In FY2025, 12.29% of appealed code-5 violations were dismissed (153 of 1,245). Bus-lane camera tickets are often beaten on unreadable images or when the lane markings were unclear.

Before you pay, check the ticket itself against the city's own requirements. Dismissals usually start with a defect:

• The photo clearly shows your plate
• Bus-lane markings and signs were visible
• You weren't making a legal right turn
• Your plate number is correct on the ticket

TicketBeat checks your code free — up to 3 free lookups a day per visitor — counted by network address and browser — and shows the dismissal rate and the defect checklist for it. If you want the dispute written for you, a dispute letter is $9.99 one-time; if tickets keep coming, Watchdog covers dispute letters for up to 3 plates for $6.99/mo while you're subscribed. TicketBeat drafts the letter — you submit it to the city; we do not file it for you, and no one can promise a dismissal.

Code 5 questions

How much is a code 5 ticket in NYC?

The fine for code 5 (bus lane violation) is $250 everywhere in NYC. If it goes unpaid, late penalties add $10 at 30 days, $20 more at 60 days, and $30 more at 90 days — $60 on top of the fine before the ticket enters judgment at around 100 days.

Does a code 5 ticket add points to my license?

No. Camera-issued tickets in New York are mailed to the vehicle's registered owner and do not add points to a driver's license. The real exposure is the fine, the late penalties, and boot or tow risk once tickets reach judgment.

How often are code 5 tickets dismissed?

In the city's FY2025 data, 12.29% of appealed code-5 violations were dismissed — 153 dismissals out of 1,245 appeals (NYC Department of Finance, FY2025). That is a historical rate across all appeals, not a prediction for any individual ticket.

What happens if I ignore a code 5 ticket?

Penalties stack at 30, 60, and 90 days, and at around 100 days the ticket enters judgment. With $350 or more in judgment debt, your vehicle becomes eligible for booting — and a booted vehicle can be towed within 48 hours. Ignoring it is always the most expensive option.

Other violation codes

Code 38 · Code 14 · Code 21 · Code 40 · Code 20 · Code 7 · Code 36 · Code 46

Related guides

• How to dispute a parking ticket in NYC
• NYC parking ticket fines and deadlines
• What happens if you ignore a parking ticket
• How to fight an expired meter ticket in NYC

TicketBeat is not legal advice. Odds are historical statistics from published city data, not predictions or guarantees about any individual ticket.