Fight a broken-meter parking ticket in Boston
You were ticketed for a meter-fee violation on a block regulated by multi-space Pay & Display meters, and the nearest meter to your parking space was out of order, unable to accept payment, or unable to issue a receipt — so you paid at the next available multi-space meter on the same block instead.
the statement
Copy, customize, submit.
To: City of Boston Office of the Parking Clerk Re: Ticket No. [TICKET NUMBER] Plate: [PLATE] ([STATE]) Date/Time: [DATE], [TIME] Location cited: [LOCATION] I am disputing this ticket and, if necessary, requesting a hearing before the Office of the Parking Clerk. I respectfully request that it be dismissed. On [DATE] at approximately [TIME], I parked at [LOCATION], a block regulated by multi-space Pay & Display meters. The nearest meter to my parking space was out of order and [DESCRIBE — unable to accept payment / unable to issue a receipt]. Because that meter did not work, I made payment at the next available multi-space meter on the same block, located at [NEXT-AVAILABLE METER LOCATION], at [PAYMENT TIME], as shown by the attached receipt. Under City of Boston Traffic Rules and Regulations, Art. IV §5, "when parking on a block regulated by multi-space pay & display meters and the nearest meter is out of order, unable to accept payment and/or issue a receipt, payment shall be made at the next available multi-space meter on the block." I did exactly that, and I ask that this ticket be dismissed on that basis. Attached: [time-stamped photo or video of the malfunctioning meter, the payment receipt or app record from the next available multi-space meter for the ticketed time, and any BOS:311 report I filed for the broken meter]. Respectfully, [YOUR NAME] [ADDRESS] [PHONE] [EMAIL]
This template is for informational use only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Square-bracketed placeholders must be replaced with your specific facts. Rules and deadlines can change; if your situation is urgent, complicated, or high-stakes, email info@imfrustrated.org for a free conversation with a volunteer attorney before you send it.
how to submit it
A few things before you send.
- 1Read the ticket and note the ticket number, plate/registration number, violation code, date, time, and location.
- 2Within 21 days of the ticket's issuance, submit a dispute one of three ways: online via the Parking Ticket Appeal Form at boston.gov/tickets; by mail to City of Boston, P.O. Box 55800, Boston, MA 02205; or in person at the Office of the Parking Clerk, Room 224, Boston City Hall. Every method requires your name and mailing address, the nature of your dispute, your plate/registration number and state, the ticket number(s), and any supporting evidence (e.g. photos, receipts).
- 3Wait for a decision — the Parking Clerk's office typically responds to online and mailed disputes within 7 to 10 business days.
- 4If the dispute is denied, you must either pay the ticket within 10 days or call 617-635-4410 to request a formal administrative hearing before the expiration of the 21-day deadline from the ticket's issuance date (per the Traffic Rules and Regulations, this same 21-day statutory window under M.G.L. c.90 §20A½ governs the hearing request itself).
- 5A hearing request can be made in person at Room 224, by phone, by email, or by mail to City of Boston, P.O. Box 1626, Boston, MA 02105, and must include a brief description of the dispute, the plate/registration number, and the ticket number(s).
- 6The Parking Clerk's office mails written notice of the hearing's date, time, and place. The hearing itself is informal and the rules of evidence do not apply; the hearing officer keeps a record and issues a final written decision.
- 7While a timely hearing request is pending, the ticket is placed on "suspended" status and is not subject to further late penalties, booting, or registration/license non-renewal.
- 8If you disagree with the hearing officer's final decision, it is subject to judicial review under M.G.L. c.30A §14 (the Massachusetts Administrative Procedure Act).
bring receipts
Attach this evidence.
- ✓A timestamped photo or video of the malfunctioning/"out of order" meter
- ✓A payment receipt or app record from the next available multi-space meter on the same block, for the ticketed time
- ✓A BOS:311 service request/report of the broken meter, if one was filed
what Boston rules say
The rule this rests on.
City of Boston Traffic Rules and Regulations, Article IV, Section 5 — Multi-Space Meters, General Regulations (¶2, as amended)
City of Boston Traffic Rules and Regulations, Art. IV § 5 (eff. Mar. 1, 2025)
This defense is narrowly scoped to multi-space Pay & Display meters. The Traffic Rules and Regulations (Art. IV §5, as amended) state: "When parking on a block regulated by multi-space pay & display meters and the nearest meter is out of order, unable to accept payment and/or issue a receipt, payment shall be made at the next available multi-space meter on the block." For traditional single-space meters, Boston's rule runs the opposite way: Art. IV §4(6) states any vehicle parked at a single-space meter displaying "Out of Order" "shall be prohibited, unless otherwise posted" — parking there at all is its own ticketable violation ("Meter Violation (Out of Order)," $25 fine), not an excuse to park for free. So simply claiming "the meter didn't work" is not, by itself, a recognized defense for a single-space meter — you must show you paid at the next available meter (multi-space scenario) to prevail.
if this doesn’t work
Your next move.
If your initial dispute is denied, you must either pay the ticket within 10 days or call 617-635-4410 (or write to City of Boston, P.O. Box 1626, Boston, MA 02105) to request a formal administrative hearing before the 21-day deadline from the ticket's issuance date expires. While a timely hearing request is pending, the ticket is placed on "suspended" status and is not subject to further late penalties, booting, or registration/license non-renewal. If you disagree with the hearing officer's final written decision, it is subject to judicial review under M.G.L. c.30A §14 (the Massachusetts Administrative Procedure Act).
questions people ask
FAQ.
Does this defense work for a single-space meter marked "Out of Order"?
No — it's the opposite. Art. IV §4(6) prohibits parking at a single-space meter displaying "Out of Order" unless otherwise posted; doing so is its own ticketable "Meter Violation (Out of Order)" ($25 fine), not an excuse. This defense applies only on blocks with multi-space Pay & Display meters.
What if I couldn't find or reach a second multi-space meter?
The rule requires payment at the next available multi-space meter on the block. Without proof you did so, the defense is weaker — document which meter you used and when.
Do I need to file a BOS:311 report about the broken meter?
It's not required, but a BOS:311 service request or repair report is independent, time-stamped corroboration that the meter was actually out of order, and strengthens the dispute.
Nervous about sending it yourself?
we’ll read it over with you.
Email the situation and a volunteer attorney will respond. No commitment, no invoice, no judgment — just an honest second pair of eyes from someone who actually understands the law.
info@imfrustrated.org