Boston's worst areas for parking tickets

BOSTON — No one likes to see a ticket slapped on their car’s windshield, but there are certain streets where you’re more likely to get a parking ticket compared to anywhere else in Boston.

Parking in Boston is never easy, and sometimes finding a spot is like hitting the lottery.

“There’s approximately 8,000 meters throughout the downtown area,” said City of Boston parking clerk Stephen Maguire.

In data obtained from the clerk’s office, FOX25 found if you park in Back Bay and Financial District, you’re at a high risk for a ticket.

The top five ticket spots from 2015 were:

1. Charles Street between Boylston and Beacon
2. Newbury Street between Arlington and Berkeley
3. Newbury Street between Mass Ave and Charlesgate
4. Newbury between Clarendon and Dartmouth
5. Boylston Street between Clarendon and Berkeley

All locations are near busy shopping areas with on-street parking in high demand.

“There’s a heavy turnover there, but there are a lot of tickets issued on that street,” Maguire said.

Enforcement officers say it’s not only where, but how you park that makes a difference.

“Loading zones, safety violations, parking in front of a hydrant, double parking, no parking within 20 feet,” said parking enforcement officer Anthony Ravenell.

Boston issued 1.3 million parking tickets last year collecting more than $57 million. Those figures are down from last year because of the historic snow.

• UNPAID METERS: 350,000
• STREET CLEANING VIOLATION: 131,000
• LOADING ZONE TICKETS: OVER 100,000
• EXPIRED INSPECTION STICKERS: UNDER 85,000
• NO STOPPING/STANDING VIOLATIONS: OVER 82,000

Ravenell says a new app helps him keep track.

“I have a list of cars that are on that black and as I’m walking that list is there, so it’d say expire or how much time is left,” Ravenell said.

Parking is serious business in Boston. So much so that the city invested $5 million in new smart meters.

“We’re seeing 76 percent use credit or debit card at the multi-space meters currently now,” Ravenell said.

But there’s also an app for that called Park Boston that you can use on your smartphone. When you find a spot, select how long you need it, and you’re done! It also keeps track of how much time is left so you won’t get a ticket.

As good as the app is, it doesn’t help drivers find a spot.

Download the Park Boston App here. 

Cox Media Group