Non-resident contesting a $100 snow emergency ticket due to financial hardship?

[tooffdk.livejournal.com]

Hey all,

I live in Hyde Park and was visiting a sick friend last Saturday evening in Somerville. I came back to my car to discover a $100 snow emergency ticket.

I am aware of the policy of towing and ticketing cars, but I really didn't know there was a snow emergency declared that night (as I don't live in Somerville, and why would I sign up for alerts for a town I was in for 2 hours, visiting a pal?).

I've been absolutely devastated and anxiety-ridden at the thought of spending $100 on this ticket. Like many people, I am under severe financial hardship.

Anyway, my question is, does anyone think I'd have a shot at contesting this ticket? I'm really not trying to whine about the city policies, but 1. I honestly had no idea there was a snow emergency declared 2. I'm from out of town (MI license plates) 3. It will be EXTREMELY difficult for me to cough up $100 to pay this fine.

Comments

Re: More bad news...

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

I moved here from CA and when I did I kept my CA license and CA license plates for well over 2.5 yrs. Worked out fine until someone stole my license plate!

Re: More bad news...

[secretlyironic.livejournal.com]

And if you had wrecked your car or it had been stolen, and the insurance company figured out that you'd been insuring it for CA and garaging it in MA, you'd have found out pretty quickly that your insurance was invalid.

Re: More bad news...

[dreamgirly19.livejournal.com]

Actually my insurance company knew. I was in a small accident and it was fine...I was a student and the laws are different.

Re: More bad news...

[nalz.livejournal.com]

Sure, you *can* do stuff like that. However it's not legal and when you get caught it reallllly sucks.

Re: More bad news...

[dreamgirly19.livejournal.com]

It is legal when you are a student!

Re: More bad news...

[nalz.livejournal.com]

Students are not full-year residents according to the law.