Michigan man gets parking ticket for using a charging station in his BMW i4 M50 EV

A Michigan man was stunned after receiving a parking ticket while charging his BMW i4 M50 EV at a public station.

Despite paying for the space and actively using the charger, he was cited for backing into the spot, which was something he had to do because the i4’s charging port is located at the rear.

The ticket sparked confusion and frustration, especially since the car was clearly plugged in.

It’s a scenario that highlights how outdated parking rules can clash with the realities of modern electric vehicles.

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A test drive for the BMW i4 M50 gone wrong

The Michigan man in question, auto journalist Kevin Williams, recounted the ordeal after receiving a $78 parking ticket in March while test-driving the BMW i4 M50 in Ferndale, just outside Detroit.

He had parked in a designated EV charging spot, backed in so the cable could reach the charging port, and walked away to grab coffee while the car topped off.

But when he returned, he found a ticket.

However, it was not for overstaying, not for misuse, but for reversing into a pull-in-only space.

He noted that this wasn’t the first time he or other EV owners had charged this way at the same spot without incident.

Compounding the frustration was the city’s apparent disregard for context.

The i4 was clearly plugged in and charging, and charging ports on EVs are located in different spots depending on the model.

It is usually in the rear for Teslas and BMWs, while it’s in the front or side for others like Chevy and Ford.

Online comments revealed that Williams wasn’t the only one to get penalized; a Tesla Model 3 owner also received a parking ticket under similar circumstances.

Williams admitted he missed the 10-day appeal window, partly due to a busy travel schedule, but was shocked to later receive a notice of potential civil infractions, including a possible arrest warrant.

Parking rules need to be updated for smooth EV adoption

Eventually, after reaching out for comment as a reporter, Williams got the ticket dismissed.

A spokesperson from ParkFerndale acknowledged the confusion and said a new policy was in place to issue warnings before tickets.

Still, the city confirmed that the no-backing-in rule applies to all parking lots, including EV charging spaces.

That leaves many EV drivers, especially those with rear-mounted charging ports, vulnerable to fines unless cities adapt their policies.

Williams’ experience highlights a growing pain in EV adoption: outdated or inflexible infrastructure rules that punish drivers for simply trying to charge.

It shows that cities investing in chargers must also rethink their parking policies, or they risk discouraging the very transition they’re trying to support.

Perhaps the US can learn something from Norway, which is widely considered the world’s most EV-friendly country.

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