Most parking tickets in Brookline will cost $45 or $50 starting Wednesday, July 29, up from $25 or $30 under a fine schedule that hadn't changed since 2007.
The Select Board voted unanimously on Wednesday, May 13, to approve the increases after Town Administrator Charles Carey proposed them in March as a way to close a projected $5.3 million budget gap without raising property taxes. Carey estimated the higher fines would generate roughly $1.1 million in additional revenue per fiscal year. That estimate was based on his original $40 target; the final $45 level would likely yield more, though no updated projection has been published.
Select Board member Anthony Buono pushed the numbers higher than Carey's original proposal. "I think it catches all these fines up to inflation from where 2007 was, or at least the best we can," Buono said at the May 13 meeting when he moved to set most violations at $45.
What's changing
The bulk of Brookline's 35-plus violation types jump to $45. That includes expired meters, overtime parking, permit violations, loading zones, wrong-direction parking, and vehicles parked on the street more than 24 hours.
Three violations rise to $50: double parking (up from $30), stopping on a crosswalk (up from $25), and parking on a sidewalk (up from $25).
What stays the same
Fines for the most serious safety violations are unchanged, according to the Brookline Police Department:
- Handicap space or ramp: $100
- Within 10 feet of a fire hydrant: $100
- Bus or trolley stop: $100
- Emergency snow ban: $50
- Stopping or standing in a bike lane: $50
What drivers need to know
The police department said the new fines apply only to violations that occur on or after July 29. Tickets written before that date carry the old amounts.
Unpaid tickets trigger escalating consequences under Massachusetts law. After 42 days, the Registry of Motor Vehicles places a hold on the vehicle's registration, blocking renewals until the balance is cleared. Drivers with more than five unpaid tickets may have their vehicles towed, the department said.
One important detail for anyone planning to fight a ticket: do not pay it first. The Brookline Police Department said payment is considered final disposition of the violation, meaning an appeal filed after payment won't be accepted.
Business community pushback
Before the May vote, the Charles River Regional Chamber raised concerns about the plan. President and CEO Greg Reibman wrote to the Select Board in August 2025, when the increase was first under discussion, asking the town to pause until local businesses could weigh in. In the letter, Reibman argued that while higher fines for serious safety violations made sense, penalizing a customer who misses a meter by a few minutes could push shoppers toward malls or neighboring towns.
After the May 13 vote, Reibman told Brookline.News the chamber hoped the board would revisit the fines and give the business community a chance to provide input. No follow-up hearing has been scheduled.
Residents with questions can contact the Brookline Police Department at (617) 730-2222.
