NEW RATES EFFECTIVE MARCH 28, 2008

A3  Meter   $25.00

B9  Overtime  $25.00

B12  Not in Marked Space  $20.00

B11  Over 1 ft. from curb  $20.00

C4  Restricted (No Parking)  $20.00

C5  Wrong Direction Parking  $20.00

C6  Storage (over 24 hours)  $20.00

D1  No Standing Area  $20.00

D2  Driveway, Alley Obstruction $20.00

D3  Within 20 ft. of Intersection  $20.00

D10  Less than 10 ft. from lane  $30.00

D6  Taxi Stand  $20.00

S1  Street Cleaning  $30.00

F2  Fire Lane $50.00

NS1  No Stopping  $30.00

E18  Bus Stop $100.00

F5  Double Stopping  $35.00

E17  Within Intersection  $30.00

E6  Safety Zone/Island  $30.00

RP1  Resident Permit Only  $30.00

S2  Snow Emergency  $40.00

F1  Hydrant within 10 ft.  $55.00

F3  Crosswalk  $35.00

F4  Sidewalk  $35.00

E14  Other  $20.00

E15  Loading Zone  $20.00

G3  HP/DV Parking Only  $100.00

G4  Disability Ramp  $100.00

As of MARCH 28, 2008, the new parking ticket violation rate indicated beside each violation will be in effect.

Parking meters are used to aid in the enforcement of time limits to promote vehicle turnover.  This allows one space to be used by many people for short periods of time.

If the meter displays  expired or no time or negative time, the vehicle is in violation and will be ticketed.

Meter time limits are set based on the adjacent land use (i.e., shorter time limit for dry cleaners and banks, longer time limit for restaurants and shops).  Time limits are used to generate turnover and create parking opportunities for other vehicles.

Time limits are signed. 

Meter feeding is the act of periodically returning to a meter to deposit additional coins to extend the time beyond the legal time limit.  If motorists feed the meter, they are denying others the opportunity to park there.  Vehicles will be tagged for exceeding the time limit even if there is money in the meter

Time limits will be enforced if the meter is broken or malfunctions.

If a vehicle is parked straddling two marked spaces with or without meters, the vehicle will be tagged.  The vehicle is denying another vehicle the use of one of the spaces.

Oversized vehicles occupying more than one adjacent metered space are required by law to pay all the meters occupied.  A vehicle using more than one metered space can be tagged if either meter is expired.

Vehicles parked too far from the curb create a traffic safety hazard because they reduce the width of the roadway available to moving vehicles.  They also reduce the space available for bicycles or overlap an on-street bicycle lane. 

Violation can occur in both parallel and angle parking spaces.  Debris, including snow banks, at the curb does not exempt vehicles from being tagged.  

  

Vehicles will be ticketed that are  parked in a posted “No Parking” area.  Commercial vehicles are not exempt.

Active loading and unloading is allowed in a “No Parking” zone. Vehicles are subject to the same time limits as in a signed loading zone.

Vehicles will be ticketed that are parked against the traffic flow causing a safety hazard when they cross the centerline to enter and exit the parking space.  They will also be tagged if facing the wrong direction in an angle parking space.

Tickets will be issued to:
  *Vehicles without a Resident Parking Permit parked in the same space for more than 24 hours. 
  *Vehicles using a Visitor Parking Permit parked in the same space for more than 24 hours.

“No Standing” means that a vehicle can pull to the curb momentarily to pick up or discharge a passenger.  Commercial vehicles may not load or unload in a “No Standing” area. Vehicles are not permitted to park, occupied or not, in a “No Standing” zone. 

Residential and commercial properties with driveways are entitled to clear access to/from adjacent driveways.  Vehicles parked across the driveway impede access and those parked too close to the driveway create safety hazards to vehicles entering or existing the driveway.

Vehicles parked blocking an alley may prevent fire and medical emergency equipment from responding in a timely manner to an emergency.

Parking is restricted at intersections to:
  *Maintain sight distance so that motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists approaching the intersection can see each other.
   *Allow emergency vehicles access to the street. 
  *Allow snow to be pushed back from corners.
  *Allow trucks (trash, plow, street sweeper, heating oil etc.) to safely turn the corner.

Distance is measured from the near curb line of the intersecting street.

Prevents vehicles from blocking the travel lane.

Taxi Stands are located near hotels, bus and train stations and other locations where passenger demand is heavy.  Taxi Stands are signed with the number of taxis allowed at the stand.

Street Cleaning regulations allow the ticketing and towing of vehicles to clear the street of parked vehicles so that mechanical street sweeping equipment can have clear access to the curb.  Street Cleaning enhances the appearance of and quality of life in the City’s neighborhoods. 

Please note, there are several holidays when the normal street cleaning day is rescheduled and paper signs are posted. These rescheduled days are shown on the street cleaning schedule.

There are some narrow streets including private ways posted no parking Fire Lane. These are done at the Fire Department’s request when necessary to provide access for fire vehicles and other emergency response vehicles.

In areas signed for No Stopping, vehicles cannot stand, park, drop-off, pick-up, or load.   No Stopping regulations are used  where keeping the curb clear of vehicles is a high priority. 

 A vehicle stopped for any reason will be ticketed.

Bus Stop regulations allow buses to pull to the curb to safely board and disembark passengers.  When vehicles are illegally parked in a bus stop, buses cannot pull to the curb causing the bus to stop in the traffic lane.  This impedes traffic flow of vehicles traveling behind the bus, delays and inconveniences bus riders and increases congestion.

A vehicle stopped in a posted Bus Stop will be ticketed.  Tickets can be written by the City of Cambridge and the MBTA.

Double stopped or parked vehicles reduce the width of usable roadway and impede traffic flow.  Double parked vehicles also block or endanger bicycle riders. 

Any vehicle Double Stopped that can not be moved will be ticketed.

An intersection is defined as the area embraced within the extensions of the lateral curb lines, or if there are no curbs, then the lateral boundary lines, of the intersecting streets. 

Vehicles stopping, standing or parking in an intersection create a traffic hazard. 

A safety zone is an area or space officially set apart within a roadway for the exclusive use of pedestrians.  A channelizing island is a traffic island located to guide traffic streams along certain definite paths.  Vehicles stopping, standing or parking in or on these areas create safety hazards to pedestrians and traffic. 

Any vehicle stopping on or next to any marked or signed safety zone or median strip or island will be ticketed.  

Resident Only parking provides residents the opportunity to park in front of or near their homes and discourages commuters from using neighborhoods as a source of free parking.   

Resident vehicles must have a valid, current decal properly displayed on the lower left driver’s side of the rear window.  If this is not possible (i.e., convertible), the sticker should be displayed on the left rear window.  The permit number must match the license plate number.  Resident permits expire on January 31^st of each year. 

Visitor Parking Permits are only valid in the district for which they were issued.  Visitor Parking Permits should be displayed on the dashboard above the steering wheel with the permit number clearly visible.  Visitor permits may not be used on the same vehicle for more than 3 consecutive days. 

Vehicles without a valid resident permit or visitor pass will be tagged.

During a declared snow emergency, parking is banned on streets signed "No Parking Snow Emergency.  Any vehicle parking in areas posted will be ticketed. 

Snow emergency parking bans allow the City to clear the main arteries and allow emergency vehicle access both during and after the storm.

The area around a fire hydrant must be kept clear for fire department access in the event of an emergency.  Vehicles parked illegally on or near a fire hydrant create a serious public safety hazard.

All vehicles parked within 10 feet of a fire hydrant will be ticketed.

Distance is measured from the center of the fire hydrant.

Vehicles blocking a crosswalk, in whole or in part, create a safety hazard for pedestrians causing them to walk in the street or near moving traffic to cross the street or get to the sidewalk.  Vehicles parked too close to the approach side of the crosswalk reduce the sight distance of both pedestrians trying to cross the street and oncoming traffic. 

Any vehicle parked, completely or partially, in a crosswalk will be ticketed. 

Vehicles parked on the sidewalk:

  *Endanger pedestrians when they are parking on or leaving the sidewalk
  *Force pedestrians to walk in the traffic lane to get around the parked vehicle
  *Obstruct clear passage for wheelchairs and baby strollers
  *Add infrastructure costs to the City for curb and sidewalk repair as a result of vehicles driving on the sidewalk.

Any vehicle parked on the sidewalk will be ticketed. 

NO EXCEPTIONS.

Infrequently used for Parking Regulation violations not specifically listed on the parking ticket.

Loading Zones are created so that commercial vehicles can park long enough to make deliveries.  Loading Zones also allow commercial vehicles to pull to the curb so that traffic flow is not interrupted. Loading Zones are for public use and are not for the exclusive use of adjacent businesses. 

Vehicles with commercial plates are allowed to park for 30 minutes.

Vehicles with passenger plates are allowed to park for 15 minutes.

Discretion is used for actively loading and/or unloading beyond allowable time limit.

Parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities provide convenient access to commercial and residential properties.  Unauthorized persons or vehicles parking in these reserved spaces deny access to those dependent on the spaces. 

Vehicles must display disability license plate or placard.  Placard must be clearly visible through the windshield. 

People using wheelchairs or other mobility assistance devices frequently are unable to negotiate a curb.  Curb ramps are designed to enable persons with disabilities to move easily from the sidewalk to the street.  Vehicles blocking the curb ramp, in whole or in part, restrict mobility and access.

Any vehicle blocking, in whole or in part, curb ramp access will be ticketed.