How to Fight Parking Tickets in the City of Boston

Seeing a parking ticket tucked under your windshield wiper is the quickest way to ruin a day in Boston. If that ticket is for a "Handicap Ramp" violation, you are looking at a base fine of $100.00. While it might feel like a simple parking mistake, the City of Boston takes accessibility very seriously. These citations are issued when a vehicle obstructs a curb cut or ramp designed to help people with disabilities move safely from the sidewalk to the street.

Why were you ticketed? Usually, this happens because a driver didn't notice the dip in the curb, or they parked too close to the corner where these ramps are typically located. In some neighborhoods, the yellow paint marking the curb might be faded, or snow might be obscuring the ramp entirely. However, parking enforcement officers are strict about this rule because blocking a ramp forces wheelchair users into traffic to get around your car.

Is it worth fighting? Since Busted supports disputes for the City of Boston, you might have a case depending on the circumstances. Common angles for disputing this specific violation include poor visibility of the ramp due to weather conditions like snow or ice, or a lack of proper signage indicating where the parking zone ends. If the curb paint was completely worn away and the ramp wasn't structurally obvious, you might be able to argue that the restriction wasn't clear. Additionally, if your car was disabled due to a mechanical emergency and you were waiting for a tow, providing a receipt from a roadside assistance service can sometimes act as a valid defense.

Whatever you decide to do, do not ignore the ticket. Boston has a strict timeline for payments. If the fine remains unpaid 21 days after issuance, a penalty of $33.00 is added to your bill. That turns a $100 headache into a $133 problem very quickly. Ignoring it further can lead to the boot or towing, which gets significantly more expensive.

Fortunately, you don't have to navigate the bureaucracy of City Hall alone. You can use the Busted web app to manage your ticket entirely online. If you choose to contest the ticket, our system can help you formulate your argument and submit the necessary details. If you prefer to just get it over with, you can pay the fine securely through our platform. We handle the heavy lifting so you can get back to your day without the stress of lingering city fines.