How to Fight Parking Tickets in the City of Boston

Boston is historic, beautiful, and absolutely notorious for its parking situation. If you have returned to your car only to find a bright orange envelope tucked under your wiper blade, you certainly aren’t alone. The "Resident Permit Only" violation is one of the most common citations issued by the City of Boston Transportation Department. It carries a base fine of $60.00, which is enough to ruin anyone’s day.

So, why was this ticket issued? Boston neighborhoods—like the North End, South Boston, and Back Bay—are densely populated with limited street space. To prioritize locals, the city designates specific streets for residents who have registered their vehicles and applied for a specific neighborhood sticker. If a parking enforcement officer scans your windshield and doesn't see a valid, current permit for that specific zone, they write a ticket. It doesn't matter if you were only gone for five minutes or if you were visiting a friend; without that sticker or a temporary visitor pass, the spot is technically off-limits during the posted hours.

However, receiving a ticket doesn't automatically mean you have to pay it. There are several valid angles for disputing a Resident Permit Only violation. The most common defense involves signage. Were the "Resident Parking Only" signs clearly visible from where you parked? If a sign was knocked over, covered by overgrown tree branches, or defaced with graffiti, you might have grounds for a dismissal. You should always document the scene with photos if this is the case.

Additionally, check the ticket itself for clerical errors. If the officer wrote down the wrong license plate number, incorrect make or model of the car, or the wrong location, the ticket could be considered invalid. Another common dispute involves visitor permits. If you were using a valid visitor pass but it had flipped over on the dashboard or slid out of view, you can often contest the fine by providing proof that you had a valid pass at the time of the alleged violation.

This is where Busted comes in. We understand that dealing with municipal bureaucracy is a headache. Our web app allows you to manage your parking tickets without the stress. Since Busted supports disputes for the City of Boston, we can help you contest this $60.00 fine. You simply answer a few questions about the situation and upload a photo of your ticket via our website. We handle the heavy lifting of generating your defense rationale.

If you decide that you were technically in the wrong and just want to get it over with, you can also pay the fine directly through the Busted web app. Speed is key here. If the fine remains unpaid for 21 days after issuance, the City of Boston tacks on a $13.00 late penalty. Don't let a $60 problem turn into a $73 problem. Whether you choose to fight it or pay it, Busted is here to help you resolve it quickly so you can get back to driving.