Kennebunk police clarify confusion over alleged parking ticket scam

Local Police Issue Correction After Ticket Confusion

A public warning about what was believed to be a scam targeting local residents has been rescinded after authorities discovered the tickets in question were legitimate—though issued miles away in another municipality.

Earlier this week, local police issued an alert advising residents to be cautious of what they described as "phony fines" appearing in mailboxes across the community. The warning came after multiple residents reported receiving citations that raised suspicions about their authenticity.

However, after investigating the complaints, officials determined the tickets were not part of a fraudulent scheme. Instead, they were valid citations issued by authorities in a neighboring city.

"We want to thank residents for bringing these matters to our attention and exercising caution," said a department spokesperson. "While the situation turned out to be a case of mistaken jurisdiction rather than criminal activity, it's always better to report potential concerns than to ignore them."

The incident highlights the confusion that can arise when residents receive citations from unfamiliar jurisdictions. Many municipalities have agreements allowing law enforcement to issue tickets across regional boundaries, particularly for traffic violations.

Authorities are now working to clarify which agency issued the original citations and whether any residents may have inadvertently ignored legitimate notices. Officials recommend that anyone who receives a citation they don't recognize should contact the issuing agency directly rather than assuming it's fraudulent.

"Getting a ticket is never pleasant, but ignoring one can lead to additional penalties," the spokesperson noted. "If you have questions about a citation, reach out to the issuing jurisdiction to verify its legitimacy."

The department also reminded residents that legitimate authorities will never demand payment through unusual methods like gift cards or wire transfers, which are common red flags in actual scams.

Officials have not released details about the specific nature of the tickets or the city where they were issued, citing ongoing communication between the jurisdictions involved.