How to Fight Parking Tickets in the City of Brookline
Exceeded Meter Time Limit
In the City of Brookline, parking meters are enforced to encourage turnover and ensure spaces are available for visitors and residents. If your vehicle remains in a spot after the paid time has expired, or if you exceed the maximum time limit posted for that zone, you are considered in violation. This rule applies even if you add more money to the meter but have stayed past the maximum allowed duration.
Guide to Fighting City of Brookline Exceeded Meter Time Limit
Let’s face it: finding a parking spot in Brookline can sometimes feel like winning the lottery. But that feeling of victory can quickly turn into frustration when you return to your car only to find an orange envelope tucked under your windshield wiper. Exceeding the meter time limit is one of the most common parking violations in the area, but dealing with it doesn't have to ruin your week.
Understanding Your Violation
Why was this ticket issued? Brookline uses meters to encourage parking turnover. The idea is to prevent cars from hogging prime spots all day, allowing more people to visit local shops and restaurants. If the meter displays "expired" or if a parking enforcement officer notes that you’ve stayed past the maximum posted time limit (even if you keep feeding the meter), you are liable for a citation. Currently, the base fine for this violation is $25.00.
The Cost of Waiting
While $25.00 might not seem like a bank-breaker, ignoring the ticket is a bad strategy. The City of Brookline has a strict escalation policy for unpaid fines. If payment isn't received within 21 days, a $10.00 late fee is added, bringing your total to $35.00. If you let it slide for 42 days, the situation gets much more serious. An additional $40.00 penalty is applied, and the matter is referred to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). Once the RMV is involved, they can place a "non-renewal" hold on your registration, meaning you cannot renew your vehicle's paperwork until all fines and fees are settled.
Can You Fight It?
Absolutely. Mistakes happen, and parking enforcement isn't infallible. There are several valid angles for disputing a meter ticket. Perhaps the meter was broken and wouldn't accept payment, or maybe the signage regarding time limits was obstructed, missing, or contradictory. In some cases, verifiable medical emergencies or vehicle breakdowns can also be valid grounds for dismissal. However, simply saying "I lost track of time" usually isn't enough to get a ticket overturned. You generally need a clear argument and, ideally, some evidence to back it up.
How Busted Helps
This is where Busted comes in. We believe that handling a parking ticket should be as modern and painless as possible. You don't need to navigate confusing municipal websites, hunt for stamps, or mail physical letters yourself. With the Busted web app, you can manage the entire process directly from your browser.
To get started, simply log into the Busted web app and upload the details of your citation. We’ll ask you a few simple questions to understand the situation. If you believe your ticket was unfair, our system helps you formulate a professional dispute letter based on your specific circumstances and handles the mailing for you. If you prefer to just pay it and move on, we can facilitate that as well. Our goal is to save you time and stress, helping you avoid those hefty late fees and RMV holds.
Late fee schedule
| Timing | Fee |
|---|---|
21-42 days If payment is received after 21 days, an additional $10 penalty is added. | $10.00 |
After 42 days If payment is not made and the matter is referred to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) an additional $40 penalty is applied. A registration renewal hold may also be placed. | $40.00 |