How to Fight Parking Tickets in the City of Boston

Parking in Boston is rarely a stress-free experience. Between street cleaning schedules, resident-only zones, and broken meters, there is a lot to keep track of. But sometimes, the reason for a ticket isn't about where you parked, but what is on your bumper. If you returned to your car to find a ticket for "No Valid/Expired Registration Plate," you are looking at a $40 fine. While this isn't the most expensive ticket in the city's arsenal, it is certainly frustrating, especially if you didn't realize your tags were out of date.

Why are these tickets issued? The City of Boston enforces this rule to ensure that vehicles occupying public street space are road-worthy and paying their annual dues to the state. The violation usually occurs in one of two scenarios. The first is straightforward: you forgot to renew your registration with the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), and your plates are legitimately expired. The second scenario is a bit more annoying: you paid your registration and renewed it on time, but you forgot to put the new year sticker on your license plate. Parking enforcement officers scan plates visually; if they see an old date, they write a ticket, even if the computer system says you are legal.

Fortunately, because this is often an administrative oversight rather than a safety hazard, there are valid angles for disputing the ticket. If you had renewed your registration before the ticket was issued but hadn't applied the sticker yet, you have a very strong case. You will generally need to provide a copy of your registration showing an effective date that predates the violation timestamp. Similarly, if your sticker was valid but covered by snow, mud, or a license plate frame, you can contest the fine by providing a clear photo of the plate with the sticker visible. Clerical errors, such as the officer writing down the wrong plate number, are also grounds for immediate dismissal.

Dealing with the City of Boston's parking clerk can be a slow and clunky process, but you don't have to navigate it alone. The Busted web app is designed to make resolving parking tickets as painless as possible. We offer a modern, user-friendly interface that saves you from dealing with confusing municipal websites or mailing in paper checks.

Since Busted supports disputes for the City of Boston, we can help you fight this ticket if you have the right evidence. When you log into our web app, we can guide you through the process of uploading your proof of registration or photos of your license plate. We handle the submission to ensure your defense is presented clearly. If you don't have grounds to dispute—perhaps you really did forget to renew—you can still use Busted to pay the fine securely and instantly. Just be sure to act quickly. If the fine remains unpaid for 21 days, the city adds a $13 late fee, turning a $40 inconvenience into a $53 headache.