Update:
It has come to our attention it was the Boston Police not Boston Transportation Department that gave out dozens of tickets on Wednesday. Nevertheless, it’s still very frustrating.
What a dirty double cross!
We all know how “challenging” street cleaning can be. If you’re parked on the side of the street that’s getting cleaned, you have to move your car or you risk getting a ticket and/or towed. With that being said (or rather, written) finding a parking spot in the neighborhood can be nearly impossible on street cleaning day since half the cars are in the same boat – they need to find a spot to make way for the street cleaner.
Since there are more cars than parking spots in most areas of Southie, it has always been acceptable to double park on the opposite side of street cleaning to allow the sweeper to get all the way to the curb. It was sort of an unwritten rule between Boston residents and the city.
However on Wednesday, East Fifth residents (between M + N) were shocked and dismayed to see this little “deal” be broken in the form of a parking ticket. One East Fifth Street resident reached out to us to let us know that dozens of cars received tickets for double parking on street cleaning day.
Now before some of you say, “well, it’s illegal.” Yes, we understand but for the few hours during street cleaning it’s been tolerated for many, many years. But not this day. It seems completely unreasonable that the city ticketed without warning or notice that would be doing so. It comes off as a money grab by the city.
Did you get a ticket for double parking during street cleaning this week? Let us know in the comments below.
We will be reaching out to Ed Flynn, our city councilor, to find out what the deal is. More to follow.
For now, be aware you could get a ticket for double parking on street cleaning day.
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Maureen Dahill is the editor of Caught in Southie and a lifelong resident of South Boston sometimes mistaken for a yuppie. Co-host of Caught Up, storyteller, lover of red wine and binge watching TV series. Mrs. Peter G. Follow her @MaureenCaught.
Love this initiative and hate that they did this to double parked residents. But it actually looks like a BPD ticket which aren’t always on the same page as the BTD. Very frustrating nevertheless. My neighbor has complained before when I have double parked opposite the street cleaning side. This can lead to tickets I think sometimes too. When neighbors need to get out of spots, there are definitely steps that can be taken before getting someone a ticket or worse.
Since their is a major issue with parking and I’m going to assume that most people aren’t aware of a decision made by people who work for the city during the pandemic …. Unfortunately during the 2 year pandemic the City of Boston extended the expiration of South Boston residential stickers. For example, if your sticker expired November 2021… you did not have to renew your sticker because “they ran out stickers” so the city extended those residential stickers expiration dates for 2 years. Not 1 year, but 2 years! The extension of the residential stickers now mean that anyone who moved out of Southie still have access to parking their car in the neighborhood (if they still have their sticker) ….which leads me to believe why the parking is worse then ever. This decision made by the city unfortunately creates ripples for existing residence for a few years till theses old residential stickers actually expire.
And….how about update the constructions signs on the cones on E Street. They are completely outdated & there’s no way to decipher what’s right or wrong anymore.
For any city or town that has a parking shortage, endless construction, & tickets people left & right, the city needs to be extra proactive about communicating to the public. City growth is a wonderful & positive thing but they should let the public know about changes like this, and ensure that the signage THEY post is accurate & timely. And, perhaps give residents a little bit of notice when streets are going to be blocked off from parking for an extended period.
A resident could be leaving for work travel, move their car in preparation of street cleaning to a designated place with no cones or signs of impending construction or changes, come back a few days later, & their car is gone . A city ticket for close to $100 & a tow ticket for $200.
All residents don’t have assigned parking!!
The street cleaning double parking is a complete joke and makes half the streets in southie unnavigable. As a life long resident couldnt be happier to finally see tickets. This “deal” never existed in my area of the neighborhood during the majority of years i lived there and really only seems to favor people living on side streets or less busy streets.
Absolutely has NOT been an “unwritten rule” in Southie for many years. The author is delusional and trying to talk herself out of a ticket.
Born and raised in South Boston and you always knew to move your car the night before to secure a proper space for street cleaning. This habit of double parking has only popped up in Southie over the last few years with more and more yuppies moving in. You can’t move to a town and start making up your own rules because you are too LAZY and inconsiderate of your neighbors to actually follow the rules!
Glad the tickets are being given out, it’s about time! Why should my car be blocked in by some double parked asshole for 4hrs because they couldn’t follow the rules? Do better Caught in Southie – your entitlement is showing!
I am a lifelong resident and it was been going on for decades. If you choose to double park – you need to be home to move your car if you’re blocking someone in. It is not entitlement – it’s a simple matter of fact – there aren’t enough spots for cars. Which street do you live on? It’s been happening on my street for over 20 years at least.
If you are a lifelong resident, then you should know better. No one is arguing the fact that there are too many cars in southie, it’s been a problem for years. That does not mean that you can start making your own rules. Maybe next week for street cleaning, I’ll park my car on the greenie, and then when I get a ticket, I’ll write an entitled article complaining about how it’s one of those “unwritten Southie rules”.
Look around the neighborhood on street cleaning day. You’ll see cars double-parked without tickets. BTD doesn’t normally ticket. They get it and understand it’s a temporary thing. Where exactly do you live that you don’t see this happening?
^^^^^^^Well now we know who called the cops YOU GRUMP.
,..,do the right thing here and pay these fines out of the pay raise you just GAVE YOURSELF…while, as usual, the Police, Fire and EMT’s do their jobs WITHOUT A NEW CONTRACT or even so much as a COST OF LIVING INCREASE. It’s the right thing to do…I mean…the taxpayers ARE funding your money grab, right? You can just frame it as you “giving back” to the people who pay your ever-increasing salary! It’s a win-win for everybody!!
Sound good?
Hello..?
Hello……??
“Unwritten ” is the key word. You can’t count on it. Have I done it in my 30 plus years here? Yes. Was I comfortable? Definitely not. You takes your chances.
Hire cleaning crews to leaf blow the gutters prior to flushing the streets with water trucks . Follow up with conventional street cleaning machines to finish .
An almost 68-year resident here and yes it has been an “unwritten” rule forever that you could double park (courteously) on street cleaning day. If that’s not going to be ok, then a simple notice to residents seems reasonable. Unions argue all the time about “past practices” that should be honored – well here we are. This is one that should be honored. It’s simply a matter of supply and demand and there’s just not enough spaces to park your car – ever – not just the 4 hours for street cleaning A little courtesy for that short period of time goes a long way toward good will and cooperation.
Nicely put…
If you double park for a few hours,
And do so with respect to others, why not.
Hey, we are all just trying to get by… indirectly helping out each other. The neighborly thing..
Taking a spot that’s been shoveled out in the winter, your on your own!😂
You know what they should do? End street cleaning. That would be a bigger realization in savings for the city than the parking fines, and would quiet down the loudmouths who want privileges.
They can sell the street sweepers, and eliminate the job positions – definitely would reduce expenses.