How to Fight Parking Tickets in the City of Providence
Double parking (more than three (3) feet from curb)
Double parking in Providence is defined as parking your vehicle alongside another parked vehicle or positioning your car more than three feet away from the curb. This rule is strictly enforced to prevent traffic congestion and ensure that emergency vehicles can navigate the city's narrow streets.
Guide to Fighting City of Providence Double parking (more than three (3) feet from curb)
Seeing a parking ticket tucked under your windshield wiper is the quickest way to ruin a day in the City of Providence. With narrow streets and limited parking availability, the temptation to double park—even for just a moment to run an errand or drop someone off—is high. However, the city enforces these violations strictly to keep traffic moving. Specifically, you are considered to be double parking if you stop alongside another parked vehicle or if your vehicle is more than three feet from the curb.
Why is this rule so strict? Providence is an old city with historic infrastructure, meaning many streets are not wide enough to accommodate a double-parked car without blocking a lane of traffic. This creates hazards for other drivers, blocks bike lanes, and can impede emergency vehicles like fire trucks or ambulances. Even if you leave your hazard lights on or remain in the driver's seat, you are still liable for a ticket if you are obstructing the flow of traffic or are too far from the curb edge.
The financial impact of this ticket depends entirely on how quickly you act. The base fine for double parking is $57.00. While this is an annoyance, the penalties for delay are severe. Providence has an aggressive escalation structure for unpaid fines. If you do not pay the fine or enter a not guilty plea before the 14th day after the violation, the fine doubles to $114.00. If you wait longer than 28 days, the fine triples to a staggering $171.00. Ignoring this ticket is not a viable strategy.
While Busted does not currently support disputing tickets for the City of Providence, you may still choose to contest the citation on your own through the municipal court if you have valid grounds. Generally, successful disputes for double parking require substantial evidence, such as proof of a medical emergency or a documented mechanical failure that made moving the vehicle impossible. Arguments like "I was only there for a minute" or "I didn't see a spot" are rarely accepted as valid defenses.
Given the steep late fees, the most practical solution for most drivers is to handle the fine before it doubles. You can pay your City of Providence parking ticket securely and instantly using the Busted web app. Our platform allows you to settle your citation quickly without navigating confusing municipal websites, ensuring you avoid those hefty late penalties.
Late fee schedule
| Timing | Fee |
|---|---|
14-28 days In the event any of the foregoing stated fines are not paid or a plea of not guilty to the citation is entered prior to the fourteenth day after date of violation, said fines shall be doubled. | $114.00 |
After 28 days In the event any of the foregoing stated fines are not paid or a plea of not guilty to the citation is entered subsequent to the fourteenth day and prior to the twenty-eighth day after date of violations, said fines shall be tripled. | $171.00 |