Philadelphia driver shocked to get fine, discovers glitch in parking app — then goes public with it. How to fight an unfair ticket wherever you are

He reached out to NBC10 when he realized there was a glitch with the app that could be affecting more commuters (1).

It turns out the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) parking app confused his station’s parking lot — where he parks every morning — with another that shares the same name.

NBC10 learned that the same bug landed commuters with tickets at two other stations that share similar names.

SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch acknowledged the glitch and was aware of three app users (including Michael) who got tickets because of it, adding that all three were reimbursed.

He said the transit authority was fixing the bug and encouraged anyone who might have been wrongfully ticketed to contact SEPTA’s customer service.

If you want to dispute a parking ticket, here are some suggestions on what to do, and not do.

Determine whether you’ve been wrongly ticketed

If you believe you’ve been wrongly ticketed, document as much as you can. That includes taking photos or video of your vehicle as it was parked when you were ticketed, along with any nearby signage. Save receipts if you paid for parking.

Reader’s Digest recommends reading the ticket closely, to see if there are errors — for example, incorrect date, time, no signature — and if the ticket clearly states which ordinance was violated (2).

If details on the ticket are missing or incorrect, or if the law violated isn’t clearly stated, you can dispute it.

For some people, it may be easier to pay the ticket than deal with the cost, money and stress of fighting it. But if you’re up to it, challenging an unfair ticket could be worth your while.

A report by 9NEWS Denver found that of 49,000 people who disputed parking tickets in 2025, 78% had their tickets either reduced or dismissed (3).

How to dispute an unfair ticket

Check dispute procedures in your area, paying close attention to deadlines for paying a ticket or registering a dispute.

There may be an online dispute resolution process, or you may have to go to a municipal building in person and make an appointment for a hearing.