Woman Loses Appeal of $300 Parking Ticket at Danvers BJ’s

A Lynnfield woman has lost her appeal of a $300 ticket she received for parking in a handicapped space outside in Danvers.

The Salem News reported Wednesday that a Newburyport Superior Court judge rejected the appeal earlier this week on the grounds that despite the circumstances, she still should not have parked illegally.

On March 30, 2010, Janice Eberle, 56, had been shopping at BJ’s for a generator. As she was leaving, Eberle pulled into a handicapped spot to run back in and retrieve a credit card. It was pouring rain at the time. She was only inside for a few minutes, but that was all the time it took for an officer to notice the illegally parked car and write a $300 ticket.

Eberle did not have a handicapped placard on her license plate.

She contested the ticket with town Parking Clerk Stephen Delaney, who refused to waive the fine, and then filed a complaint in court. Eberle argued several hardships, including the weather, the quick dash inside for the forgotten credit card, recent shoulder surgery and a flooded basement at home due to the weather, according to news reports of the case.

The case did draw national media attention.

The Salem News reported on Wednesday that Eberle now has until July 7 to pay the ticket.