How to Fight a Parking Ticket in Lehighton, 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

Lehighton Borough declares snow emergencies that prohibit parking on certain streets to facilitate snow removal. If cited during a declared snow emergency, challenge whether the Borough provided adequate advance public notice by radio/TV broadcast, website, and posted signs before enforcement began.

Legal basis:

Pennsylvania courts have held that municipal parking bans triggered by emergency declarations require reasonable prior notice to motorists. Enforcement before adequate notice was provided may render the citation unenforceable.

Required evidence:

• Borough snow emergency declaration and its publication or broadcast date and time
• Photograph of signage at the cited location showing snow emergency restriction
• Date and time the emergency was declared vs. the violation time

Lehighton Borough's parking ordinance authority is limited by 75 Pa.C.S. § 6109. If the cited ordinance imposes a restriction not authorized by § 6109 (e.g., a restriction not listed among the powers granted to local authorities), challenge the ordinance as exceeding the Borough's statutory authority.

Legal basis:

75 Pa.C.S. § 6109 grants local authorities specific, enumerated parking powers. Ordinances exceeding these powers are invalid under Pennsylvania law and may be challenged.

Required evidence:

• Copy of the ordinance provision cited in the violation
• Text of 75 Pa.C.S. § 6109 showing the enumerated local parking powers
• Comparison showing the ordinance rule is not authorized by § 6109