Buzz
At some point during adulthood, whether you own or borrow a car, you're likely to face a parking violation. Fines vary depending on your location and the discretion of the parking enforcement officer, but regardless of the cost, you have the right to contest the ticket. Here's a quick guide on how to go about it.
First and foremost, you need to ask yourself if you genuinely deserved the ticket—and be honest with your answer. Being in a hurry and neglecting the rules isn't a valid reason to dispute the fine. If you do have a legitimate case (which we'll discuss below), you can request a hearing or an administrative review of the ticket.
Certain cities allow people who’ve received tickets to submit requests for review online, by mail, or in person. The timeframe for submitting such a request differs by city; for example, in New York City, you have 30 days to submit a request for review, while in Los Angeles, you have 21 days.
You can contest a ticket for various reasons, such as incorrect details on the ticket, malfunctioning meters, or inadequate or obscured signage where you parked. Keep in mind that the person reviewing your case likely wasn’t present when the ticket was issued, so make sure to be clear and brief in explaining the situation, and include photos taken at the scene to back up your argument.
If the hearing doesn’t go in your favor, you may still have recourse. For instance, in Los Angeles, you can appeal the decision in Superior Court. You have 30 days from the hearing officer’s ruling to file your appeal in person. While there may be a fee for this process, it will be refunded if you win the appeal.
