How to Fight Parking Tickets in the City of Somerville
Meter Violation
A Meter Violation in the City of Somerville means your vehicle was parked at a metered spot after your paid time expired or without valid payment. Parking enforcement monitors these zones strictly to ensure spaces turn over regularly for other drivers and local businesses.
Guide to Fighting City of Somerville Meter Violation
Seeing that little envelope tucked under your windshield wiper is the quickest way to ruin a day in Somerville. One minute you are grabbing a coffee in Davis Square or running an errand on Highland Avenue, and the next, you owe the city money. If you have been hit with a Meter Violation, you are not alone. It is one of the most common citations issued by the City of Somerville to keep traffic moving.
So, what exactly happened? Essentially, the parking enforcement officer determined that your vehicle was occupying a metered spot without valid payment or that your time had expired. Somerville uses meters to ensure parking turnover, meaning they want cars moving in and out so local businesses have access to customers. If the red flag is up or the digital display flashes zeros, you are liable for the $30.00 base fine.
While $30.00 might not seem like a bank-breaking amount compared to some other cities, ignoring it is a bad strategy. Somerville has a tiered late fee system that gets expensive quickly. If you do not pay or request a hearing within 21 days, a $5.00 late fee is added. If you still have not resolved it by the time the second notice is 21 days old (roughly 42 to 63 days from issuance), another $15.00 is tacked on. Worst of all, after 63 days, the Parking Clerk notifies the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), triggering a $40.00 referral fee and potentially preventing you from renewing your registration. That original $30 ticket can easily triple if you let it sit in your glovebox too long.
The good news is that you do not just have to pay up if you believe the ticket was issued in error. There are valid reasons to dispute a meter ticket. Was the meter actually broken and unable to accept payment? Were the signs confusing, obstructed, or missing? Did the officer write down the wrong license plate number or make a factual error on the ticket? These are all potential grounds for dismissal. However, simply saying you were "only a minute late" usually does not work as a defense.
This is where Busted comes in. We know that dealing with municipal bureaucracy is a headache. You do not need to navigate the city's complex website alone or spend hours figuring out how to write a formal appeal letter. With the Busted web app, you can handle the entire process directly from your browser.
Here is how it works: you answer a few simple questions about your situation and upload a photo of your ticket along with any evidence you have. Our system looks at the details to help formulate your argument. If you want to fight it, we handle the paperwork and mail the dispute on your behalf. If you would rather just pay it and move on, we can facilitate that too. It is about saving you time and giving you a fair shot without the stress.
Late fee schedule
| Timing | Fee |
|---|---|
21-42 days First late fee > 21 days unpaid and no hearing requested | $5.00 |
42-63 days Second late fee 21 days after the mailed notice if still unpaid (or no hearing request) | $15.00 |
After 63 days RMV referral fee - when Parking Clerk reports non-payment to Registrar of Motor Vehicles | $40.00 |