How to Contest a Parking Ticket in California (The 3-Step Process)

You got a parking ticket in California. Your first instinct is to pay it and move on. But here's what the city doesn't tell you: California law mandates a three-stage dispute process, and most tickets are dismissed not in the first round — but in the second. Knowing how the system actually works is the difference between handing over $85 and keeping it.

This guide covers the complete California parking citation dispute process under California Vehicle Code (CVC) § 40215.

Why California's Dispute Process Is Designed Against You

California cities issue parking citations in massive volumes. Los Angeles alone issued approximately 1.86 million tickets in fiscal year 2024, generating around $110 million in revenue. San Diego issued 482,449 citations in just the first nine months of 2024. The system depends on most people paying without question.

The initial review stage (Step 1) is handled internally by the same agency that issued your ticket. LADOT reviews its own officers' citations. SFMTA reviews its own. Cities reject roughly 70% of initial protests — not because those protests are wrong, but because applicants don't know what evidence actually matters.

Step 2, the administrative hearing, is where an independent examiner reviews your case. This is the step most people never reach. It's also where dismissal rates rise significantly.

The Three-Stage California Parking Citation Dispute Process

Stage 1: Initial Administrative Review (Free, Within 21 Days)

Under CVC § 40215(a), you have 21 calendar days from the citation issue date — or 14 days from the first delinquency notice, whichever is later — to request an initial review.

What it costs: Nothing. You do not pay anything at this stage.

How to file: Online, by phone, or by mail. Every major city has a portal: - Los Angeles (LADOT): ladotparking.org - San Francisco (SFMTA): sfmta.com → Citations → Contest - San Diego: sandiego.gov/parking/citations/appeal - Sacramento: SacPark.org - Oakland: oaklandca.gov - San Jose: pticket.com/sanjose

What to include: Do not write "I didn't know" or "this seems unfair." The examiner is looking for objective facts that show a rule was not met. Attach photos. Reference specific CVC sections. More on this below.

What to expect: You'll receive a written decision. If dismissed, you're done. If upheld, you receive a "Notice of Decision" letter and move to Stage 2.

Stage 2: Administrative Hearing (Deposit Required, Within 21 Days of Denial)

This is the stage the city hopes you skip. Under CVC § 40215(b), after receiving a denial at Stage 1, you have 21 days from the mailing date of that denial to request an administrative hearing.

What it costs: You must deposit the full fine amount before the hearing. This money is held, not collected — if you win, it's refunded.

Hardship waiver: If depositing the full amount would create a financial hardship, you can request a pre-payment waiver under CVC § 40220. Income documentation is required.

Format: You can appear in person or submit a written declaration. The hearing is conducted by a neutral examiner — not an employee of the issuing agency. This independence matters.

Burden of proof: Preponderance of evidence. You don't need to prove your innocence beyond a reasonable doubt. You need to show it's more likely than not that a violation requirement was not met.

Stage 3: Civil Appeal in Superior Court (Within 30 Days of Hearing Decision)

If you lose at Stage 2, CVC § 40230 gives you 30 days to file a civil appeal in Superior Court.

What it costs: A $25 filing fee, which is recoverable if you win.

Format: A de novo hearing — the judge reviews your case fresh, independent of the hearing officer's decision. The ticketing agency's evidence file is submitted, but the judge rules independently.

This stage is rarely necessary for standard parking violations, but it exists. Most people who have solid evidence win at Stage 2.

What Evidence Actually Wins a Parking Citation Dispute

Saying "the sign was confusing" loses. Saying "the sign at the entrance to the block was obscured by city tree canopy, violating CVC § 22507.6's adequate notice requirement" wins. The difference is specificity and legal grounding.

Strong evidence types: - Time-stamped photographs taken at the scene (metadata enabled on your phone) - A "context shot" showing your vehicle's position relative to the nearest sign or hydrant - A "sign shot" showing exactly what the sign says — or showing no sign exists - A "wide shot" of the entire block to establish the absence of signage - App receipts from ParkMobile or PayByPhone showing payment was made - Street sweeping schedule screenshots from the city's official website - Video of a broken meter rejecting both coin and card payment - Google Street View history screenshots establishing when a restriction was added

What doesn't work: - "I was only gone a minute" - "I didn't see the sign" - "I couldn't afford the ticket" - Claims that have no legal basis in the CVC

Common Defense Grounds in California

Broken meter (CVC § 22508.5): If a meter could not accept any form of payment, you may park up to the posted time limit without penalty. The meter must be truly inoperable — if only the coin slot is broken but the card reader works, this defense fails.

Missing or obscured signage (CVC § 22507.6): Street sweeping and time-limit restrictions require signs giving adequate notice. If the sign was missing, graffiti-covered, or obscured by vegetation, the restriction may be unenforceable on that block.

Handicap placard defense (CVC § 40226): If you held a valid placard at the time of citation but failed to display it, the fine may be reduced to an administrative fee (max $25) rather than the full violation amount.

Daylighting law (AB 413, effective January 1, 2025): As of 2025, CVC § 22500(n) prohibits parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk approach even if the curb is not painted red. If your ticket cites this new law, the relevant defense is measurement — photograph the distance from your vehicle to the crosswalk.

Tire chalking: The 9th Circuit ruled in Verdun v. City of San Diego (2022) that tire chalking is constitutional in California. Do not attempt a defense based on the 6th Circuit ruling in Taylor v. Saginaw — it does not apply here.

The 21-Day Clock Starts the Moment the Ticket Is Issued

This is where most people lose before they even start. The deadline runs from the citation date — not from when you got home, not from when you noticed the ticket fell off your windshield, not from when you looked it up online.

If your citation is 19 days old and you haven't filed, file today. Do not wait.

If the deadline has passed, you still have options: some cities allow late submissions with documented reasons, and the 120-day window under CVC § 40220 applies to payment plan applications.

After the Dispute: What Happens If You Don't Pay

Unpaid California parking citations trigger a DMV registration hold under CVC § 4760. Your vehicle cannot be renewed until all fines and late fees are paid. If you accumulate five or more unpaid citations, your vehicle becomes eligible for booting or towing under CVC § 22651(i).

Outstanding parking debts are eventually sent to collections, which affects your credit score.

The Easiest Mistake to Make

Most people write emotional appeals in Stage 1 — they describe their frustration, explain they're a good driver, or argue the fine feels excessive. None of this matters. The reviewer is checking whether a CVC requirement was technically not met, not whether your day was difficult.

Write clinically. Cite codes. Attach evidence. Let the facts make the argument.

The California parking citation dispute process gives you real tools to fight back — but only if you know the process, meet the deadlines, and speak the city's language. Our California Parking Ticket Dispute Guide includes violation-specific defense templates, a deadline tracker, and step-by-step instructions for every major California city's portal.