Judge Frank Caprio orders $30 payment after Providence woman explains hospital visit, parking confusion

At a hearing in the Municipal Court of Providence, Judge Frank Caprio imposed a $30 penalty after Sherry Gervais told the court she received two parking tickets — an expired meter on Blackstone Street near Rhode Island Hospital and an overnight parking citation on Jewett Street — while visiting a hospitalized relative.

Gervais told the court she had parked by the hospital because she saw a sign indicating "4-hour parking." "I was like, 'Oh, good. Great,'" she said, describing her surprise at later finding a citation. She also explained the overnight ticket stemmed from sleeping in her car near her daughter's residence on Jewett Street because of a lack of parking; she said her grandson was visiting from New York and she later stayed with her mother after the hospitalization.

Gervais said she had missed an earlier court date but contacted the court and had her appearance extended. She also told the judge that some fines had increased for failure to appear, saying, "my tickets are like doubles, triples, one of them is triple." The court record does not specify the pre-existing fine amounts or the exact calculation that led to the tripling.

After hearing Gervais's explanation, the presiding judge directed her to pay $30. "All right, it's $30. See the clerk," the judge said, ending the brief session. The judge's courtroom has been described on the program as one where "people and cases are met with compassion."

The hearing transcript identifies the locations involved as Blackstone Street by Rhode Island Hospital (near the Munchy Room) and Jewett Street in Providence. The record does not show any further dispute, motion, or appeal filed during the segment; payment to the clerk was the recorded disposition.

The Municipal Court proceeding was presented on the program "Caught in Providence," which characterizes the court of Judge Frank Caprio as distinctively compassionate.