DOT Violations

What kinds of DOT violations are issued frequently? 

Several DOT violations are issued for interfering with the regular flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic. Common ones are failing to get proper permits or illegally opening the street. Items illegally stored on the street (dumpsters, construction materials, etc.), failure to erect specific construction street protection, and bicycle-related violations also fall under the DOT’s umbrella. 

DOT violations are adjudicated by the ECB/OATH. 

How do they impact my buildings? 

While named respondents for DOT violations are sometimes issued to parties separate from building owners and managers, these infractions can still impact operations around and adjacent to your building. Construction may be halted depending on specific violations, impacting your ongoing work.  In addition, any illegally blocked streets or sidewalks can affect traffic to and from your property. It’s worth knowing if certain parties are frequently being cited for DOT violations near your building so you can prevent future infractions or minimize any negative impact. 

How do I remove a DOT violation? 

First, check the Named Respondent section for details on who is listed as the responsible party for this violation. It could be you, your company, or any other party who does work at this address, including contractors, owners, managers, or tenants. If you are not the Named Respondent/if you are unaffiliated with the Named Respondent, this violation is not your responsibility. 

If the violation is issued to you, you have two options: 

• You can attend the hearing to contest the violation OR 
• You can pay the fine (which is admitting guilt) and you don’t have to attend the hearing 

What’s the current Penalty Sheet? 

You can check out the DOT’s new penalty schedule here. Penalties range from $100 to $20,000 for the most serious offenses.