Live cameras and parking
New York’s traffic cameras are built to watch intersections, not to inventory parking spaces. Park Map still opens the nearest working street camera when you look up an address, because the corner is often the only live picture of that block.
What the picture is for
Use it to see the street you are about to drive to: a stopped truck, a film crew, a curb that is obviously full. The parking rule above the picture comes from city signs, not from the pixels. A camera can face a bus lane while the sign around the corner allows parking.
When you want a closer look
Tap a green dot to open that camera and read the rule for its block. If the dot is pale, the city feed for that camera is quiet. The map keeps it so you still know a camera exists there.
Also: street cleaning and hydrants.