Reason Behind the 48-hour Parking Rule

[wonkywheels.livejournal.com]

There has been some talk in this community about the 48-hour parking rule. Can someone explain the rationale behind this law? I have a car, but I take the "T" or ride my bike to work, so it doesn't make sense to me to have to move my car for no reason. I understand the need to move my car for street-sweeping, but this 48-hour thing doesn't seem to have a basis.

Comments

Re: It does give a little satisfaction...

[sekala.livejournal.com]

In some ways it's a little unfair to students. I'm not a student now, but I was. While you are still in traditional undergrad, even if you rent out an apartment, your residency is still in all technicality your parents house(unless you are an independent of course) so you aren't actually supposed to change your plates. That can make things very difficult for students who actually do live on streets where they can't park.

Re: It does give a little satisfaction...

[snow-how.livejournal.com]

Students who bring cars into the city are required to fill out an RMV form to get a special quasi-"registration" sticker for their car, which in theory entitles them to a street parking permit for the city in which they live. If Somerville doesn't accept this RMV "out of state student" sticker for issuance of parking permits (I don't know whether they do or not), then that would be unfair to students. I doubt most students even know the requirement exists (though most area universities mention it on their web sites), unless someone's called the DOR on them and they were forced to find out the hard way!

Re: It does give a little satisfaction...

[snow-how.livejournal.com]

sorry, That post should begin, "Students from out of state who bring cars into MA..."

Re: It does give a little satisfaction...

[ron_newman]

I've never seen such a sticker. What does it look like and where is it normally placed?

Re: It does give a little satisfaction...

[snow-how.livejournal.com]

I've never seen one either! And apparently it's the student's school that issues the sticker, not the state (note that it has nothing to do with campus parking, it's a state thing; I only know about it because a former housemate of mine had worked for the RMV and mentioned it a few times).

The form is the last one listed on this page (http://www.mass.gov/rmv/forms/registration.htm), and while it makes reference there to a $50 fine for non-compliance, the form itself says the penalty is higher:

"This completed form must be filed with the police department in the city or town where the school is located. The Police Department must provide a copy to the school, the local assessor, and the RMV. The school will issue the required decal, which must be affixed to the uppermost center portion of the windshield. The penalty for a nonresident's failure to comply as required is up to $200.00."

So on reading that, I'm wondering why everything revolves around the city the school's in, and not the city where the student is residing? What does the Medford assessor, for instance, care (or even know) about a Tufts student who resides and parks in Somerville?

Re: It does give a little satisfaction...

[ron_newman]

I'm guessing that a copy goes to the assessor so that an annual excise tax bill can be sent to the vehicle owner.