Pay a Parking Ticket

Note: Parking ticket must be paid or disputed within 21 days to avoid late penalties. If you feel that a ticket was issued in error, you may file a dispute.

The Dispute Process

• You must submit your dispute online or in writing.
• Our Hearing Officer will review the information you provide and mail a decision to you.
• If your ticket is dismissed the process is complete.
• If your ticket is not dismissed, you may pay the ticket or request an in-person hearing at the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department's office. All hearings must be requested and scheduled in advanced.
• During the hearing you will meet with the Hearing Officer. The Parking Control Officer who wrote the ticket will not be present. You will have the opportunity to:
  • explain the reason you feel the ticket was issued in error,
  • provide details of any extenuating circumstances, and
  • provide any documentation or evidence that supports your claim. 
• If your ticket is dismissed the process is complete.
• If your ticket is not dismissed, you may pay the ticket or appeal the ticket through the Middlesex County Superior Court, 200 Trade Center, Woburn, MA. There is a $275.00 filing fee.

Submit Your Dispute

Online

Note: You may not use the online dispute for if you have already paid your ticket. Instead, you may submit your dispute by email or mail.

• You will have the opportunity to upload two supporting documents.
• When entering your ticket number, do not include spaces or hyphens.
• You must provide:
  • an email address,
  • a phone number,
  • the ticket number, 
  • the license plate (vehicle registration) number,
  • your name and address, and
  • the reason for the dispute.
• Submit your dispute via the online dispute form.

By email or mail

Use the online dispute form if possible, this ensures that your request goes directly into our dispute queue for review. Disputes sent via email or mail require additional time for processing. You must include:

• your name and address;
• contact information, an email address and/or a phone number;
• the ticket number;
• the license plate (vehicle registration) number; 
• the reason for the dispute 

Email your dispute to tpt@cambridgema.gov; or mail or deliver your dispute to:

Attn: Hearing Officer
Traffic Parking & Transportation Department
City of Cambridge
344 Broadway
Cambridge, MA 02139

Vehicles are most commonly towed because they were parked in areas with:

• street cleaning, April 1 - December 31
• emergency or temporary "No Parking", this includes all papers signs posted 48 hours in advance for moving vans, general construction work, street repairs, dumpsters, special events, etc.
• snow emergency routes

Locate a Towed Vehicle

Use the Towed Vehicle Lookup or call the Cambridge Police Department at 617-349-3300 to find out if and where your vehicle has been towed. Please have your license plate number available.

Pay Tow Fees

The City contracts with two tow companies, B&B Tow and Phil's Tow. In order to retrieve your vehicle, you must pay the the tow fees. These fees are paid directly to the tow companies.

Tow fees:

• Basic tow (vehicles up to 10,000 lbs.) - $100.00
• Vehicles over 10,000 lbs. and up to 18,000 lbs. - $110.00
• Vehicles over 18,000 lbs. - $270.00
• Storage fee per day - $37.50
• Basic tow charge for all motor vehicles during a snow emergency - $120.00

Tow companies accept payment by cash, credit card, or guaranteed check.

Submit a Tow Dispute

If you believe your vehicle was invalidly towed, you may file a dispute. The City of Cambridge does not tow vehicles without issuing a ticket, tow disputes follow a similar process as ticket disputes.

To use the online form, you must provide:

• an email address
• a phone number
• the ticket number for the ticket that was issued when your vehicle was towed
• the license plate (vehicle registration) number
• your name and address
• the reason for the dispute
• supporting documentation
  • a copy of the parking ticket that was issued when your vehicle was towed
  • a copy of the receipt showing payment for the tow fees

When entering your ticket number, do not include spaces or hyphens.

The dispute will be reviewed and a decision will be mailed to you within 4 weeks.

You may also mail or deliver your tow dispute and/or receipt proving payment for the tow fees and a copy of the parking ticket to:

Attn: Tow Disputes
Traffic Parking & Transportation Department
City of Cambridge
344 Broadway
Cambridge, MA 02139

Tow receipts and a copy of the parking ticket may also be sent to the attention of Tow Disputes via fax at 617-349-4747.

Tow Company Complaints

Complaints about the tow company should be directed to the company that towed your car. A copy of your complaint should also be sent to Purchasing Agent, Cambridge City Hall, 795 Mass Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139.

Boot Eligibility

Your vehicle is eligible to be booted if you have five or more unpaid parking tickets that are more than 21 days old.

Get a Boot Removed

In order to have the boot removed, you must pay all tickets and fees in your name. Once you have made your ticket payments, contact us.

Boot Fees

There is a base fee of $45.00. A $20 per day storage fee will be added each day, starting the day after your vehicle is booted.

If you do not make your ticket payments within three days, your vehicle will be towed. If you owe more than $1,000.00 in parking tickets and late fees, we may tow your vehicle immediately. You are responsible for all tow charges and storage fees assessed by the tow company.

The following table includes includes information about the fine amount for each violation (ticket) and the late fees.