California Parking Ticket Contest Letter Template (What to Write)

California's parking citation dispute process begins with a written statement. How you write that statement — the specific language, structure, and evidence you attach — determines whether your protest gets dismissed in 60 seconds or actually gets considered.

Here is exactly how to write a California parking ticket contest letter that gives you the best chance of success.

Understand Who Reads Your Letter

At Stage 1 (Initial Administrative Review), your letter is read by a staff reviewer at the same agency that issued your ticket — LADOT reviews its own citations, SFMTA reviews its own, and so on. This person is not a judge. They are checking whether the facts you present identify a technical deficiency in the citation.

They are not checking whether the fine feels fair, whether you're usually law-abiding, or whether the situation was confusing. They are looking for: did the officer meet all the legal requirements to issue this ticket? Did you have a valid defense under the California Vehicle Code?

Write for that question. Nothing else.

The Letter Structure

Header Block

Start with identifying information at the top:

Citation Number: [number from your ticket]
Vehicle License Plate: [your plate]
Date of Violation: [date on ticket]
Violation Code: [CVC code listed on ticket]
Date Submitted: [today's date]

Opening Statement

One sentence. Cite the specific legal ground.

Example: "I am contesting citation #[number] issued to vehicle [plate] on [date] because the cited restriction was not adequately posted as required by California Vehicle Code § 22507.6."

Do not open with: "I am writing to contest this ticket because I feel it was unfair." The word "feel" signals an emotional appeal. Reviewers stop reading.

Body: The Legal Argument

This is the core of your letter. Two to four paragraphs. Structure each paragraph as:

1. What the law requires
2. What the actual facts show
3. How those facts demonstrate non-compliance with the law

Example for missing signage: "California Vehicle Code § 22507.6 requires that parking restrictions for street sweeping be indicated by signs that give adequate notice of the restriction. On [date] at [time], I parked on [street name] in [city]. I did not observe any street sweeping restriction signs on the block where my vehicle was parked. Attached as Exhibit A is a photograph taken at [time] showing the absence of visible signage at both ends of the block. The nearest visible sign was located [X feet] away at the intersection of [cross street], which does not constitute adequate notice for this block under the standard established in [City] parking enforcement guidelines."

Example for broken meter: "California Vehicle Code § 22508.5 provides that a vehicle may park at an inoperable meter for up to the posted time limit without penalty. On [date], I attempted to pay the meter at [location/meter number] using both the coin slot and the credit card reader. Both payment methods failed. Attached as Exhibit A is a video recording showing the meter number, the coin slot rejecting inserted coins, and the card reader displaying an error message. I parked for [X minutes], which is within the posted [Y-hour] time limit."

Evidence Reference

List each piece of evidence with a label:

Exhibit A: Photograph of [location] taken at [time] showing [what it shows]
Exhibit B: Screenshot of city street sweeping schedule for [street] showing [schedule]
Exhibit C: ParkMobile receipt showing payment of [amount] at [time] for [location]

Closing Statement

One sentence:

"Based on the foregoing and the attached evidence, I respectfully request that citation #[number] be dismissed."

Do not threaten legal action. Do not reference what happened to you at other cities. Do not write paragraphs about your personal circumstances.

Violation-Specific Language

Street Sweeping (CVC § 22507.6)

Key defense: the sign was missing, obscured, or did not give adequate notice.

"The citation alleges a violation of [city ordinance] pursuant to CVC § 22507.6. However, as shown in the attached photographs (Exhibit A), the block of [street] between [cross street 1] and [cross street 2] contained no visible street sweeping signage at the time of the alleged violation. Under CVC § 22507.6, restrictions are only enforceable where signs provide adequate notice. The absence of posted signage on this block renders the restriction unenforceable at this location."

Expired Meter / Broken Meter (CVC § 22508.5)

Key defense: the meter was inoperable — it could not accept any form of payment.

"The cited meter at [location, meter #] was inoperable at the time of the alleged violation. I attempted to pay via coin (Exhibit A: video of coin rejection) and via credit card (Exhibit A: video of card error). Under CVC § 22508.5, a vehicle may park at an inoperable meter for the duration of the posted time limit. My vehicle was parked for [X minutes], which is within the [Y-hour] posted limit."

Red Curb (CVC § 21458)

Key defense: the curb paint was so faded it was not clearly visible to a reasonable person.

"The red paint at the location cited was severely faded and not clearly visible to a reasonable person at the time of the alleged violation. Attached as Exhibit A is a photograph taken on [date] showing the condition of the curb marking. The paint degradation means the restriction was not adequately visible as required for enforcement."

Note: As of January 1, 2025, the daylighting law (AB 413) prohibits parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk even without red paint. If your ticket cites CVC § 22500(n), faded paint is not a defense — measurement is.

Handicap Zone — Valid Placard Not Displayed (CVC § 40226)

Key defense: you held a valid placard at the time but did not display it.

"At the time of the alleged violation, the vehicle was occupied by [placard holder name], the holder of valid disabled person placard #[number], expiration [date]. I failed to properly display the placard. Under CVC § 40226, when a driver provides proof of a valid placard held at the time of citation, the agency may collect an administrative fee not to exceed $25 in lieu of the full fine. Attached as Exhibit A is a copy of the placard and the registration card."

Evidence Checklist Before Submitting

Before you mail or submit your contest letter, confirm:

• [ ] Citation number in the header matches the ticket exactly
• [ ] Every exhibit referenced in the body is actually attached
• [ ] Photographs have visible timestamps (check your phone camera metadata settings)
• [ ] Video is exported and attached or uploaded, not just referenced as "I have a video"
• [ ] CVC codes cited in your letter actually apply to your violation type
• [ ] Tone is factual throughout — no emotional language, no threats

How to Submit

Most California cities accept online submission through their citation portals. You can attach documents and photos directly. Keep a copy of everything you submit, including a screenshot of the confirmation page.

If submitting by mail, send via certified mail with return receipt — this creates a timestamped record that you filed within the 21-day deadline.

21-day deadline reminder: The clock runs from the citation issue date, not from when you find the ticket or look it up online. If you're at day 18, submit now.

What Happens After You Submit

Expect a decision within two to eight weeks depending on the city. San Francisco notes that reviews can take up to 90 days for some citation types. You'll receive a written decision.

If your protest is denied, you are not done. Under CVC § 40215(b), you have 21 days from the mailing date of the denial to request a Stage 2 administrative hearing. At Stage 2, an independent hearing officer reviews your case — not the issuing agency. Dismissal rates at Stage 2 are higher than Stage 1.

Most people who give up after a Stage 1 denial never reach the stage where they had the best chance of winning.

Writing an effective California parking citation dispute letter is a skill — one that anyone can learn with the right structure. Our California Parking Ticket Dispute Guide includes complete templates for every major violation type, pre-filled with the relevant CVC codes, so you spend your time customizing the facts, not drafting from scratch.