Paying a parking ticket in Fall River, Massachusetts can feel frustrating, but it’s important to pay your fine promptly to avoid additional penalties. Here’s a quick guide to paying Fall River parking tickets, including information on where to pay, payment options, and what happens if you don’t pay.
What type of parking violations lead to tickets in Fall River?
There are several parking violations that can result in a ticket if you park illegally in Fall River:
- Expired parking meter – If you park at an expired meter, you may get a ticket. Parking meters in Fall River typically allow 1-2 hours of parking before needing to pay again.
- Street cleaning violation – Many Fall River streets have designated street cleaning days where you cannot park on that side of the road. Parking on street cleaning days will lead to a ticket.
- Handicap parking violation – It is illegal to park in a handicap parking spot without a valid handicap parking placard or license plate. Doing so will result in a costly ticket.
- Blocking fire hydrant – Parking within 10 feet of a fire hydrant is not allowed in Fall River and will lead to a parking citation.
- Parking in a no parking zone – If you park where parking is prohibited, such as near a corner or a bus stop, you may receive a parking ticket.
The fine amount will depend on the type of parking violation. Expired meter tickets tend to be $25-50, while fines for parking in handicap spots or fire lanes can be $200-500 in Fall River.
Where can I view and pay Fall River parking tickets?
If you receive a parking ticket in Fall River, there are a few options for viewing your citation and payment information:
- Ticket mailed to you – The ticket will be mailed to the address associated with the car’s license plate registration.
- In person at City Hall – You can inquire about parking tickets in-person at Fall River City Hall, located at One Government Center in Fall River.
- Online portal – Fall River has an online parking ticket portal where you can search tickets by license plate or citation number. You can view ticket status, photos, and make payments.
To pay your parking ticket, you have several options:
- By mail – Detach and mail in the payment slip from your ticket along with a check or money order.
- Online – Pay through the online parking portal via credit card or e-check.
- In person – Bring your ticket to the Parking Ticket Office at City Hall to pay in cash or card.
- Drop box – City Hall has a drop box where you can leave ticket payments after hours.
What happens if I don’t pay my Fall River parking ticket?
It’s important to pay your Fall River parking ticket because ignored tickets can quickly lead to additional fines and penalties. Here’s what can happen if you don’t pay:
- Late fees – A late fee of $5 will be added if not paid within 21 days. The late fee increases to $10 after 42 days.
- Collections – Unpaid tickets are sent to collections after 60 days, leading to extra collection fees.
- DMV registration block – The RMV will put a block on renewing your registration and license if you have unpaid tickets.
- Towing and boot – Repeat offenders run the risk of getting vehicles towed or booted until fines are paid.
- Warrants – Failure to pay after multiple notices could result in a criminal complaint or arrest warrant.
Because of the escalating penalties, it’s smartest to pay your Fall River parking ticket as soon as possible after receiving it.
Can I contest a Fall River parking ticket?
If you believe your Fall River parking ticket was issued incorrectly or unjustly, you can contest the ticket by requesting a hearing. Here is the process to contest a parking ticket:
- File an appeal – You must file a written appeal within 21 days from receiving the ticket. Appeals can submitted in-person, by mail, or online.
- Hearing date – You will be mailed a hearing date to appear before a magistrate at Fall River City Hall.
- Present your case – On your hearing date, present evidence such as photos and testimony on why you should not be responsible for the ticket.
- Magistrate decision – The magistrate will decide whether to uphold or dismiss the ticket. You will receive the decision by mail.
- Pay or appeal – If upheld, you must pay the fine. You can appeal the magistrate’s decision within 21 days.
Some common reasons for successful parking ticket appeals include missing signs, unclear street markings, medical emergencies, or broken meters. However, the appeal success rate is only around 25%, so have evidence ready to support your argument.
Can I get a reduction on a Fall River parking ticket fine?
Fall River does not offer formal fine reductions or warnings for parking tickets. However, here are some options that may help reduce the amount owed:
- Early payment – Paying within 21 days avoids the $5 late fee.
- Payment plan – You can request a payment plan to spread out fine payments over several months.
- Contest the ticket – Successfully appealing the ticket will dismiss the fine entirely.
- Show financial hardship – Low income qualification may reduce fines or allow community service instead.
While the parking clerks and magistrates want tickets paid, they understand financial challenges come up. If you communicate an inability to pay the full amount, they may be willing to offer one of the above options to make the fine more manageable.
What options do I have for paying late parking tickets in Fall River?
If you have outstanding parking tickets in Fall River that have gone beyond the initial 21 day payment window, you have a few options to settle the debt:
- Online payments – Pay the original fine plus all late fees through the online parking portal.
- Payment plan – Contact the parking clerk to arrange a monthly payment plan for your fines.
- Collections – The collections agency can negotiate options for paying past due fines over time.
- Apply for a fine reduction – You can submit an application describing financial hardship to request late fee reductions.
- Request ability to pay hearing – Appear before a magistrate and agree to a payment schedule for outstanding fines.
While paying late parking tickets becomes more complicated, continuing to ignore them will only make the situation worse. Contact the Fall River Parking Office immediately to learn your options for resolving old fines.
Conclusion
Parking tickets can take a toll financially and emotionally. But with a clear understanding of Fall River parking rules, ticket view and payment options, and repercussions for not paying promptly, you can avoid headaches from a citation. Pay attention to parking signs, meter times, and street cleaning schedules, and you’ll rarely find a surprise ticket on your windshield. But if you do get an errant citation, you can now confidently navigate the process for handling it.