How to Fight Parking Tickets in the City of Cambridge
Within intersection
Parking within an intersection is prohibited because it blocks visibility for other drivers and prevents vehicles from turning safely. You must ensure your vehicle is not encroaching on the area where two or more roadways meet, regardless of whether specific 'No Parking' signs are present. This rule applies 24/7 to keep traffic flow efficient and safe for pedestrians.
Guide to Fighting City of Cambridge Within intersection
Parking in the City of Cambridge can feel like a competitive sport. Between the bustle of the squares and the narrow residential streets, finding a legal spot is a victory in itself. However, coming back to your car to find a ticket for parking "Within intersection" can ruin your day instantly. While the base fine is $30.00, the frustration is often much higher. Here is what you need to know about why this happens and how to handle it without losing your cool.
Why are these tickets issued? It usually comes down to safety and visibility. City ordinances prohibit parking within an intersection to ensure that other vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians have a clear line of sight. It also ensures that larger vehicles, like fire trucks or delivery vans, have enough room to make turns without clipping a parked car. You might feel like you were tucked away safely, but if your bumper was encroaching on the theoretical box of the intersection, a parking enforcement officer is likely to write that ticket.
Is it worth fighting? That depends on the specifics of your situation. While parking tickets are strict liability offenses, there are valid reasons to dispute a citation. For a "Within intersection" violation, common dispute angles often involve the clarity of the intersection boundaries. Was the curb cut poorly defined? Were crosswalk lines faded or non-existent? If you have photographic evidence showing your vehicle was actually a safe distance back from the intersection, or if there was conflicting signage that confused the parking rules, you may have a case. Additionally, if your car was disabled and you were waiting for a tow, providing a receipt from the towing company can sometimes lead to a dismissal.
This is where Busted comes in. You don't need to navigate the City of Cambridge’s bureaucratic maze alone. Our web app is designed to streamline the process of managing your parking citations. Whether you decide to pay the fine or want to challenge it, Busted allows you to handle everything digitally. We can help you organize your evidence and submit your dispute directly through our platform. While we cannot guarantee a dismissal—the final decision always rests with the city—we make the process significantly less painful than filling out paperwork or waiting on hold.
Time is of the essence. Cambridge has a tiered late fee structure that kicks in relatively quickly. You have 21 days to pay or appeal the ticket before a $10.00 late fee is added. If you wait longer, the penalties stack up: another $15.00 is added after 67 days, and a hefty $40.00 is tacked on after 104 days. That original $30.00 ticket can more than triple in cost if ignored. Use the Busted web app to take care of it today so you can get back to driving without that ticket hanging over your head.
Late fee schedule
| Timing | Fee |
|---|---|
21-67 days Tickets must be paid or appealed within 21 days to avoid the first late fee. | $10.00 |
67-104 days Tickets must be paid or appealed within 21 days to avoid the first late fee. | $15.00 |
After 104 days Tickets must be paid or appealed within 21 days to avoid the first late fee. | $40.00 |