How to Fight Parking Tickets in the City of Boston
Double Parking (Zone B)
Double parking occurs when you stop your vehicle on the roadway side of another vehicle that is already stopped or parked at the curb. In Boston's Zone B, this is strictly prohibited because it obstructs traffic flow and can trap other parked drivers, regardless of whether you leave your hazard lights on.
Guide to Fighting City of Boston Double Parking (Zone B)
Boston is a city known for its history, its culture, and its notoriously difficult parking situation. If you are driving around Zone B, finding an open curbside spot can sometimes feel like winning the lottery. In these moments of frustration, it is incredibly tempting to just pull up alongside a parked car, throw on your hazard lights, and run into a shop for "just a second." Unfortunately, that is exactly how you end up with a Double Parking violation.
In the City of Boston, double parking is taken seriously because the streets are often narrow, winding, and heavily trafficked. When you double park, you aren't just bending the rules; you are often blocking a travel lane, creating a bottleneck for other drivers, or preventing a legally parked car from leaving their spot. For Zone B specifically, the base fine is set at $35.00. While this might not seem like a bank-breaker compared to other major city violations, it is an annoyance that can easily grow if you ignore it.
Time is of the essence when dealing with parking citations. If you toss this ticket in your glove box and forget about it, the city will add insult to injury. If the fine remains unpaid 21 days after the notice is issued, a $10.00 penalty is assessed. That turns a $35 quick errand into a $45 headache. It is always better to address these things sooner rather than later to avoid accumulating debt with the city.
However, not every ticket is valid, and you have the right to contest it if you believe it was issued in error. There are valid reasons to fight a double parking citation. Perhaps your vehicle was disabled, and you were waiting for a tow truck when the officer passed by. Maybe you were experiencing a legitimate medical emergency. Another common angle involves technical errors on the ticket itself. Did the parking enforcement officer write down the wrong license plate number? Is the color of the car listed incorrectly? These administrative errors can sometimes lead to a dismissal if pointed out correctly.
This is where Busted comes in. We know that dealing with municipal websites and confusing dispute processes is the last thing you want to do with your free time. You don't need to download another app to clutter your phone to solve this. Our Busted web app is designed to streamline the entire process for you directly from your browser.
If you believe you have grounds to fight the ticket, our system can help you assemble your evidence and present a professional dispute to the City of Boston. We ask the right questions to uncover potential defenses you might not have thought of. If you would rather just pay the fine and move on with your life, we can facilitate that securely as well. While we cannot guarantee a dismissal—parking officers are tough customers—we can certainly take the stress and paperwork off your plate.
Late fee schedule
| Timing | Fee |
|---|---|
After 21 days A penalty of $10 shall be assessed if the fine remains unpaid 21 days after issuance of a notice of such violation. | $10.00 |