Grrr, I would fight it too! Usually, if there is a situation where in which you can't park in a place, here they at least put up a sign or call people to inform them that there is going to be a no parking zone.

I got a stupid citation, well two of them, at the college last year. One was for parking at an expired parking meeter. I parked at a meeter that was next to a sign that said "Free parking from 5pm to 6am" and I parked there at 5:05. The citation was timestamped at 5:30. I tried to fight it but they said that it was free for people who had parking permits (of course the sign didn't say this) and I didn't have a permit at the time. They said I could pay the $35 fine or spend $300 on a permit so I wouldn't have to pay the fine I paid the $35 lol.

The next one, which happened when I DID have a parking pass, I got fined for having a "Stolen permit". I had reciently switched cars and was unaware that you had to register your car with parking services so they can keep track of what cars have permits. What if your car breaks and you're borrowing someone elses? Anyway, they cited me for it and I had to go in with my registration papers to PROVE that my car was my car. At least I didn't get charged for that one!