How to Fight Parking Tickets in the City of Somerville
Non-Compliance Moving Van Permit
In Somerville, you must obtain and properly display a specific permit to reserve on-street parking for a moving van. This violation is issued if your moving truck is parked in a reserved spot without the permit visible, or if the vehicle is parked outside the dates, times, or specific location authorized by the Traffic and Parking Department.
Guide to Fighting City of Somerville Non-Compliance Moving Van Permit
Moving day in the City of Somerville is stressful enough without seeing an orange envelope tucked under your windshield wiper. Between navigating narrow one-way streets and hauling furniture up triple-decker staircases, the last thing you need is a parking ticket. However, Somerville is strict about managing its curb space. The "Non-Compliance Moving Van Permit" violation is the city's way of enforcing the rules around reserving street parking for relocations.
To park a moving truck legally in a reserved spot, you are generally required to obtain a permit from the Traffic and Parking Department at least two business days in advance. This permit allows you to post "No Parking" signs to clear space for your truck. If you receive a ticket for non-compliance, it usually means one of a few things happened: you didn't buy a permit at all, you parked in a location that didn't match your permit, you stayed past the authorized time, or the permit simply wasn't displayed clearly on the dashboard or window of the vehicle.
While the base fine is $50.00, ignoring the ticket will make it much more expensive. Somerville has a tiered late fee structure that kicks in relatively quickly. If the ticket remains unpaid for 21 days and no hearing is requested, a $5.00 late fee is added. If you let it slide for another three weeks (42 days total), a second late fee of $15.00 is applied. Finally, after 63 days, the Parking Clerk reports the non-payment to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles (RMV), which triggers a hefty $40.00 referral fee and prevents you from renewing your license or registration.
Fortunately, you don't have to just accept the fine if you believe it was issued in error. There are valid reasons to dispute this ticket. Perhaps you had a valid permit, but it fell off the dashboard and wasn't visible to the officer. Maybe the officer wrote down the wrong license plate number or location, or perhaps the signage for the zone was confusing or missing. If you followed the rules but still got tagged, it is worth looking into an appeal.
That is where Busted comes in. Our web app simplifies the entire process of managing your parking tickets. If you want to contest the violation, we can help you gather your evidence and submit a dispute letter to the City of Somerville. If you prefer to just get it over with, we can facilitate the payment quickly so you don't have to navigate clunky city websites. Whether you choose to pay or fight, Busted helps you resolve the issue before those late fees start piling up.
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 |