Contesting
Parking Violation: Procedure
To
contest a citation, the first request must be made within 21 calendar days of
receiving the citation OR within 14 calendar days of receiving the delinquent
notice (see below for more details).
Please note that the request must be made for an INITIAL REVIEW before a
request for an ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING.
The request for the ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING must be made within 21 days of the
results from the INITIAL REVIEW . No
money is required to request an INITIAL REVIEW, but the all fees due from the
Citation must be paid before an ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING date is provided.
To
request a review or hearing date by mail,
mail your request to the address indicated on the CITATION or the DELINQUENT
NOTICE. If you do not have the
address, send the request to the address below.
Please request the review or hearing within the time limits indicated.
Failure to request a citation review or hearing will result in the case
not heard and the request will be mailed back to you.
Request
for Citation Review/Hearing
Parking
Citation Service Center
Post
Office Box 11923
Santa
Ana, CA 92711
To
contest the Citation at the first level, Initial Review
40215.
(a) For a period of 21 calendar days from the issuance of a notice
of parking violation or 14 calendar days from the mailing of a notice of
delinquent parking violation, a person may request an initial review of the
notice by the issuing agency. The request may be made in writing,
or in person. There shall be no charge for this review. If, following the
initial review, the issuing agency is satisfied that the violation did not
occur, that the registered owner was not responsible for the violation, or that
extenuating circumstances make dismissal of the citation appropriate in the
interest of justice, the issuing agency shall cancel the notice of parking
violation or notice of delinquent parking violation. The issuing agency shall
advise the processing agency, if any, of the cancellation. The issuing agency
or the processing agency shall mail the results of the initial review to the
person contesting the notice.
To
contest the Citation at the second level, Administrative Hearing
(b)
If the person is dissatisfied with the results of the initial review, the
person may request an administrative hearing of the violation no later than 21
calendar days following the mailing of the results of the issuing agency's
initial review. The request may be made by telephone, in writing, or in person.
The person requesting an administrative hearing shall deposit the amount of the
parking penalty with the processing agency. The issuing agency shall provide a
written procedure to allow a person to request an administrative hearing
without payment of the parking penalty upon satisfactory proof of an inability
to pay the amount due. Notice of this procedure shall be provided to all
persons requesting an administrative hearing. After January 1, 1996, an
administrative hearing shall be held within 90 calendar days following the
receipt of a request for an administrative hearing, excluding time tolled
pursuant to this article. The person requesting the hearing may request one
continuance, not to exceed 21 calendar days.
(c)
The administrative hearing process shall include the following:
(1)
The person requesting a hearing shall have the choice of a hearing by mail or
in person. An in-person hearing shall be conducted within the jurisdiction of
the issuing agency. If an issuing agency contracts with an administrative
provider, hearings shall be held within the jurisdiction of the issuing agency
or no more than 21 miles outside the county.
(2)
If the person requesting a hearing is a minor, that person shall be permitted
to appear at a hearing or admit responsibility for the parking violation
without the necessity of the appointment of a guardian. The processing agency
may proceed against the minor in the same manner as against an adult.
(3)
The administrative hearing shall be conducted in accordance with written
procedures established by the issuing agency and approved by the governing body
or chief executive officer of the issuing agency. The hearing shall provide an
independent, objective, fair, and impartial review of contested parking
violations.