i agree this really sucks (i've had this happen in somerville too, actually, and now i wait in my car while they run up and get the permit) but...you weren't legally parked. by your own admission, you were parked somewhere that required a permit and you didn't have one.
it's like the people who park somewhere 'just for a minute!' and so they don't put money in the meter and then whine when they get a ticket.
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i agree this really sucks (i've had this happen in somerville too, actually, and now i wait in my car while they run up and get the permit) but...you weren't legally parked. by your own admission, you were parked somewhere that required a permit and you didn't have one.
it's like the people who park somewhere 'just for a minute!' and so they don't put money in the meter and then whine when they get a ticket.