Double parking can be convenient for a variety of reasons, whether it be to quickly pick up or drop someone off or when you’re in a rush and just can’t find a spot. Double parking rules, however, are stricter than you may imagine and may be an easy way to get a ticket.

All of New York City is considered a tow away zone and double parking is considered an obstruction of traffic. While you are allowed to make quick stops to load and unload passengers, you may not stand or park while in a double parked position. According to the Department of Transportation’s Traffic Rules handbook, double parking is defined as:

On the roadway side of a vehicle stopped, standing, or parked at the curb…

The only vehicles that are exempt to this rule are commercial vehicles. They are allowed to stand, but are still prohibited from parking. The vehicle must be attended at all times:

…a person may stand a commercial vehicle alongside a vehicle parked at the curb at such locations and during such hours that stopping, standing, or parking is not prohibited, for no more than 20 minutes, while actively engaged in loading or unloading goods, tools, materials, or other items for the purpose of making pickups, deliveries or service calls, provided that there is no unoccupied parking space or designated loading zone on the same side of the street within the same block that can be used for such standing…

Regardless of the time of day or your vehicle type, make sure there’s at least 10 feet of roadway width available for other vehicles to pass. If you’re blocking the road, you’re violating the law. Especially if you leave your car for “just a quick trip to the restroom.”