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Resident says appeal fees block low-income Fall River drivers; committee asks to add online-appeal language to tickets
Summary
At a March 24 committee meeting, resident Anita Boulay told the Ordinances Committee that the city's parking-appeal process and citation language create a financial barrier for low‑income residents; the committee unanimously voted to request ticket language that highlights online appeals and defers the $10 processing fee until hearing.
Anita Boulay, a Fall River resident, told the City Council Committee on Ordinances and Legislation on March 24 that the city's parking-appeal process effectively bars low-income residents from seeking review because it requires payment up front.
"The current system requires payment to access an appeal," Boulay said, adding that clusters of citations on one street totaled "above $4,000" and that staff did not clearly disclose that multiple citations can be appealed per plate. She said she had eight tickets over a short period and that the upfront cost made appeals inaccessible.
Assistant Corporation Counsel Kenneth Fredette responded that a state provision Boulay cited (Mass. Gen. Laws Chapter 90, the sections she referenced) had not been formally accepted by Fall River and therefore did not impose an indigency-waiver requirement on the city. Fredette said municipal statute and practice vest the first level of review with the parking clerk and that the 21-day window to request a hearing remains the operative timeframe.
Vice President Dion pressed Boulay on the timeline and the number of citations, and traffic staff explained how the $10 processing fee works. Stephanie McCreary, identified in the record as Director of Traffic and Parking, told the committee that the fee is charged per plate but that residents can submit an online appeal through the city portal, which places the ticket under review and suspends additional fees while the appeal is pending.
Councillors raised concerns about signage and public notice. Several members said the city should better publicize how to appeal and the fact that online appeals can suspend enforcement while under review. Councilor Pereira moved that ticket language be updated to state that individuals may apply for an appeal online; after clarifying the wording so it states the ability to apply online (not an automatic fee waiver), the committee approved the request by voice vote. The committee asked staff to circulate the revised language once it is prepared and to return to the committee to close the item.
The committee did not adopt a formal indigency-waiver policy at the meeting. Fredette and other staff said there is no statutory mandate for an indigency-based fee waiver on parking appeal processing fees, but councilors suggested several policy options: change ticket text, post clearer online guidance, and consider administrative steps (courtesy warnings when signage changes) before ticketing.
The committee voted to request that parking tickets be updated to include clear online-appeal instructions and to revisit the item when staff deliver draft language.
