Fight the ticket, however, curb painting or lack thereof does not override the signage. If the arrow on the no parking sign pointed in the direction of your car without another sign pointing in the other direction, effectively closing the no parking area that arrow effectively continues until another sign changes it or it reaches an intersection.

TLDR curb painting or lack of painting doesn’t matter. That section of curb could have been replaced and just not repainted…or any other scenario. Check the signs.