How to Fight a Parking Ticket in Bryn Mawr, PA

The no-parking sign was absent, missing from the block, obstructed by a tree or another sign, or so faded as to be illegible at the time of the violation.

Legal basis:

A motorist cannot be held responsible for violating a regulation that was not properly posted. Signage must be installed and maintained according to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).

Required evidence:

• Photograph of the sign (or lack thereof) taken on or near the violation date
• Wide-angle photo showing the full block face
• Timestamp metadata from the photo

The parking meter was visibly broken, displayed an error, accepted payment but failed to register it, or was not functioning at the time the vehicle was parked.

Legal basis:

Vehicle operators are not required to seek alternative parking when a meter malfunctions. The city bears responsibility for maintaining meter equipment.

Required evidence:

• Photograph of the meter display showing the error or malfunction
• Receipt or bank statement showing payment attempt if applicable
• Timestamp from the photograph

Two or more signs on the block face or pole provided contradictory parking rules, making it impossible to determine the lawful parking restriction.

Legal basis:

Contradictory signs create an ambiguity that must be resolved in the motorist's favor. Enforcement cannot stand when the regulation is unclear.

Required evidence:

• Photograph clearly showing both conflicting signs in the same frame
• Photograph showing the distance between the signs

The ticket contains a material error in the vehicle description — wrong license plate number, incorrect state, wrong vehicle make, model, or color.

Legal basis:

A ticket with a materially incorrect vehicle description is legally defective. The issuing officer must accurately identify the vehicle for the citation to be valid.

Required evidence:

• Copy of vehicle registration showing correct plate and description
• Photograph of the vehicle's actual license plate

The vehicle was parked in violation because of an unforeseen medical emergency affecting the driver or a passenger that required immediate attention.

Legal basis:

Most municipal codes recognize medical necessity as an affirmative defense to a parking violation. The emergency must be genuine and documented.

Required evidence:

• Hospital or emergency room discharge paperwork showing date and time
• Doctor's note or urgent care visit documentation
• Any emergency services record

The parking restriction was not properly posted under 75 Pa.C.S. § 6122, or the parking ticket omitted information required by local ordinance or 75 Pa.C.S. § 6109 for a valid citation.

Legal basis:

75 Pa.C.S. § 6122 requires local authorities to erect official traffic control devices conforming to the MUTCD before parking restrictions are enforceable. A restriction not properly authorized and posted under state and local law may be challenged.

Required evidence:

• Photograph of the sign or its absence at the cited location
• Copy of the ticket showing missing or defective required fields

Lower Merion Parking Authority uses mobile payment apps and kiosks in Bryn Mawr. Challenge whether the payment system was functioning correctly, whether you received a confirmation, and whether the system's failure to register a valid payment caused the violation.

Legal basis:

75 Pa.C.S. § 3352 and Lower Merion Township parking ordinances require the municipality to maintain functioning payment systems. A motorist who makes a valid payment attempt cannot be held liable for a system failure beyond their control.

Required evidence:

• Screenshot of the mobile app confirmation or payment receipt
• Bank or credit card statement showing the payment charge
• Screenshot of any error message received from the app or kiosk
• Timestamp showing the payment was made within the allowed window

Bryn Mawr's commercial core uses a mix of 2-hour, 4-hour, and overnight parking zones. Challenge whether the sign at the cited location clearly specified the days and hours of the time restriction, and whether any ambiguity in the posted time window should be resolved in the motorist's favor.

Legal basis:

75 Pa.C.S. § 6122 requires parking restrictions to be clearly communicated through official traffic control devices. Ambiguous or incomplete time-limit postings may not provide adequate legal notice for enforcement.

Required evidence:

• Photograph of the posted time-limit sign showing the hours and days
• Timestamp from the photograph confirming the time relative to the restriction
• Wide-angle photograph showing all signs on the block face