How to Fight Parking Tickets in the City of Providence
Parking so as to obstruct the flow of traffic
This violation occurs when your vehicle is parked in a position that prevents other traffic from moving freely or safely passing by. It commonly applies to double parking, blocking a narrow travel lane, or sticking out too far into the street. Essentially, if your car creates a bottleneck or a blockage, you are obstructing the flow of traffic.
Guide to Fighting City of Providence Parking so as to obstruct the flow of traffic
Seeing a parking ticket tucked under your wiper is never a good feeling, but seeing a $202.00 fine for blocking traffic in Providence can be a genuine shock. This is one of the more expensive non-moving violations you can receive in the city. The logic behind the ticket is straightforward: Providence streets are often narrow, and the city prioritizes keeping lanes clear for emergency vehicles, buses, and general traffic flow. If your car was double-parked, sticking out too far from the curb, or left in a travel lane, an officer likely determined you were causing a bottleneck.
The most critical thing to understand about this specific ticket is the aggressive late fee structure. Providence does not take a lenient approach to unpaid fines. If you do not pay or plead not guilty within 14 days, that $202.00 base fine doubles to $404.00. If you let it slide past 28 days, the fine triples to a staggering $606.00. Because the penalties escalate so quickly, ignoring this ticket is the most expensive mistake you can make.
If you believe the ticket was issued in error, you have the right to contest it through the municipal court. Common angles for disputing this violation usually involve proving that your vehicle was disabled due to a mechanical emergency, or providing photographic evidence that your car was actually parked legally and traffic could pass unimpeded. However, subjective arguments like "I was only there for a minute" rarely work for obstruction violations, as the blockage occurs the moment the car stops.
For many drivers, the risk of the fine doubling or tripling outweighs the hassle of a court battle, especially without hard evidence. If you decide the best course of action is to settle the matter and move on, you can handle the payment directly through the Busted web app. Our platform connects you to the payment system to clear your plate number quickly. By paying immediately online, you ensure you beat that 14-day deadline and avoid the shock of a $404 or $606 bill later in the month.
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. | $404.00 |
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. | $606.00 |