Quick Answer
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Crossword clue: “Penalties for parking violations”
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Answer: FINES – 5 letters
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Clue number and direction: 1 Down
The New York Times crossword clue “Penalties for parking violations” is answered with FINES in 5 letters. In the grid, it appears as FINES running down.
Why FINES Is the Right NYT Answer
- Parking violations—like overstaying a meter or stopping in a no‑parking zone—are typically punished with monetary fines, which matches the clue’s “penalties.” The plural “penalties” lines up cleanly with the plural FINES, not a singular word like “ticket.”
- On the February 11, 2026 NYT Mini, the pattern from crossings (F from FOX, I from IKEA, N from NARCS, E from EPOCH, S from SIXTH) forms F‑I‑N‑E‑S, so the grid itself confirms FINES as the intended fill.
What FINES Means
- In simple terms, fines are money penalties you pay for breaking rules or laws, often minor ones like parking or traffic regulations. A parking ticket is essentially a notice that you owe a fine.
- So this clue is very literal: “penalties for parking violations” are simply FINES, the standard word for these monetary punishments.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
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When you see “penalties” or “punishments” in everyday contexts (parking, speeding, late fees), think of FINES first.
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Watch the number: plural clues (“penalties,” “punishments”) usually want plural answers like FINES or FEES.
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Use pattern recognition: for a 5‑letter answer, patterns like F_NES, _INES, or FI_ES almost always point to FINES in a legal/parking context.
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Remember that crossword cluing style favors simple, direct vocabulary for Minis, especially with real‑world concepts like tickets and fines.
How FINES Fits the Grid
For 1 Down in this Mini, there are 5 stacked squares, which matches FINES exactly. In pattern form, it’s:
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Pattern in grid:
FINES(F‑I‑N‑E‑S)
Each crossing supports it:
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F crosses FOX.
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I crosses IKEA.
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N crosses NARCS.
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E crosses EPOCH.
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S crosses SIXTH.
With every cross agreeing, there’s no alternative that fits the clue and pattern as cleanly as FINES.
Other Ways FINES Might Be Clued
FINES is a common crossword answer and often appears with clues like:
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“Parking tickets, essentially”
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“Penalties for overdue library books”
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“Penalties for speeding”
All of these point back to the same idea: small legal or rule‑based money penalties.
Complete February 11, 2026 NYT Mini Answers Today (Across & Down clues and answers)
Here are the key answers from the February 11, 2026 NYT Mini to help you complete the full grid.
Across
| Clue | Answer | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| Flying ___ (kind of bat, despite its name) | FOX | 3 |
| Furniture retailer known for its sprawling stores | IKEA | 4 |
| Drug cops, informally | NARCS | 5 |
| Geological time period spanning several ages | EPOCH | 5 |
| Like F, in the alphabet | SIXTH | 5 |
Down
| Clue | Answer | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| Penalties for parking violations | FINES | 5 |
| African mammal whose striped legs resemble a zebra's | OKAPI | 5 |
| Make a copy of | XEROX | 5 |
| Bank customer's holding: Abbr. | ACCT | 4 |
| “Quiet, you!” | SHH | 3 |
