How to Fight Parking Tickets in the City of Providence
Parking during a snow ban
When the City of Providence declares a snow emergency, all vehicles must be removed from city streets to allow snowplows to operate safely. Failure to move your car results in a citation and often a tow, as on-street parking is strictly prohibited until the ban is officially lifted.
Guide to Fighting City of Providence Parking during a snow ban
Winter in Providence can be charming, but waking up to a parking ticket on your windshield after a snowstorm is anything but. The City of Providence takes snow removal very seriously, and they rely on strict parking bans to ensure their plows can clear the streets effectively. When a snow emergency is declared, usually via local news and the city's social media channels, all on-street parking is prohibited. If your vehicle is left on the road, it becomes an obstacle for emergency vehicles and plows, leading to the issuance of this specific violation.
Unlike a standard expired meter ticket, a snow ban violation carries a heavy financial penalty right from the start. The base fine is set at $102.00, which is already steep for a parking infraction. However, the real danger lies in ignoring the ticket or delaying payment. Providence has an aggressive escalation structure for unpaid fines. If the ticket remains unpaid or is not contested within 14 days, the fine doubles to $204.00. If you let it slide past 28 days, the fine triples to a staggering $306.00. Because the penalties escalate so quickly, time is truly of the essence when dealing with this citation.
While this can be frustrating, there are limited angles for disputing these tickets. Generally, snow ban violations are treated as strict liability offenses. However, if you believe you were ticketed in error, you might check a few things. First, verify the exact time the ban went into effect versus the time stamped on your ticket; if you were ticketed before the official start time, you may have grounds for a dismissal. Second, ensure that where you parked was indeed a public street subject to the ban and not a private way or a designated exempt area. If you choose to contest the ticket based on these factors, you will need to deal directly with the Providence Municipal Court.
Given the high risk of the fine doubling or tripling in just two weeks, many drivers find that the safest and most stress-free option is to settle the debt immediately. While Busted does not currently support disputing this specific violation in Providence, we offer the fastest way to pay it and move on. You don't need to mail a check or stand in line at City Hall.
By using the Busted web app, you can pay your Providence snow ban ticket securely in seconds. Our platform ensures your payment is processed correctly, helping you avoid those massive late fees that kick in after day 14. Simply search for your ticket on our website and handle the payment instantly so you can get back to enjoying the winter weather—preferably with your car parked safely off the street.
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. | $204.00 |
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. | $306.00 |