What looked like a simple fix for a charging cable problem instead led to a $50 citation for a University at Buffalo driver with a 2018 Chevy Bolt EV.
The ticket was issued because the car was parked the wrong way on a one-way road. The driver took to Reddit's r/BoltEV community to ask if they should appeal the ticket.
Here's what to know
According to the Reddit post, the driver was using the ChargePoint station near Bonner Hall at UB and says the Bolt was in a designated EV charging space, but facing opposite the one-way traffic so the cable could reach the car's charging port.
But when the driver came back, a $50 ticket was waiting. The driver did not dispute the rule itself, explaining, "I understand the rule, but I was using a designated EV charging space and was trying to make the charger work with my car's charging port location."
They then asked the Reddit forum, "Do you think I have a reasonable chance of getting the ticket dismissed if I appeal it? Has anyone dealt with something similar at UB or another university?"
The reaction in the thread was mostly skepticism. A Google Street View link shared in the comments appeared to show an Equinox EV charging there while facing the proper direction, which commenters took as evidence that the setup might work without parking the wrong way.
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Another user wrote, "Unfortunately, the law generally doesn't care about your valid reasons. Go fight it of course, but expect to lose." A third commenter said, "I don't normally use public chargers, but usually the cable is long enough to reach the other side of the car, no?"
What can be done?
The clearest practical advice in the thread was to gather evidence before filing an appeal. One commenter told the driver, "If you haven't taken a picture, go back and do so to prove your point," arguing that photos of the stall, lane direction, and cable reach would provide the best chance of making the case.
Commenters also floated workarounds that could help other EV drivers avoid the same problem. Those included repositioning farther back in the space, checking whether the cable can stretch around the car, and testing a route that avoids parking against traffic.
Multiple commenters said the traffic direction rule would probably outweigh the convenience issue, even in a designated EV charging spot.
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