Getting a parking ticket when your car is parked legally is more than annoying—it can feel like the system is broken. In some cases, that is exactly what happened, such as when city records, curb markings, license plate data, or permit databases contain errors. If the city made the mistake, you generally do not have to simply accept every ticket and keep paying them forever. But you usually do need to respond quickly, document the problem, and use the city’s appeal process to protect yourself.