To Contest a Parking Citation (First Appeal)

Minor parking citations are considered civil offenses and are not criminal infractions. Accordingly, the criminal courts do not hear parking matters. If you wish you contest a parking citation or a notice of delinquent parking citation, you may submit an appeal to the City of Encinitas Development Services Department, Code Enforcement any of the methods below.

A completed Parking Citation Initial Review Request, along with a copy of the parking citation and any other supporting documentation, must be submitted to the City’s Development Services Department - Code Enforcement.

The City’s Parking Citation Adjudicator will review the citation, the completed appeal form, and any other relevant documentation submitted by either the appellant or the issuing officer to determine if the citation is valid or can be dismissed.

If the citation is determined to be INVALID, a decision letter will be mailed and/or emailed to the appellant and the citation will be dismissed. No further action will be required by the responsible party.

If the citation is determined to be VALID, the appellant will be notified by mail and/or email. The responsible party will then have two (2) options to choose from:

• Option 1: Pay the full penalty amount within (21) calendar days from the date of the initial review decision. Failure to remit payment within (21) calendar days will result in double fees and/or a delinquency hold on your account, which may prevent you from registering or reregistering your vehicle with the CA DMV.

• Option 2: Pay the full penalty amount AND request for an administrative hearing no later than (21) calendar days following the mailing of the results of the initial review. Failure to respond within the (21) calendar days will result in a waiver of the appellant’s right to further review of the citation.

Citation appeals MUST be received by the City within (21) calendar days of receiving the original parking citation or within (14) calendar days of the courtesy notice date. Appeals received after the above number of days, respectively, will NOT be reviewed.

Please Submit the Appeal Form Via One of the Following Methods:

1. Online (Have Original Parking Citation or Courtesy Notice for reference)

2. In-Person (Include copy of citation, Courtesy Notice or Citation Number w/appeal)

   City of Encinitas
   Finance Department - Cashier’s Station
   505 S. Vulcan Ave
   Encinitas, CA 92024

3. By Mail (Include copy of citation, Courtesy Notice or Citation Number w/appeal)

   City of Encinitas
   ATTN: Parking Citations
   505 S. Vulcan Ave
   Encinitas, CA 92024

**A parking citation that has been issued within the last week may not be viewable online. If this is the case, please submit the appeal form by mail or in-person with a copy of the citation or courtesy notice.**

**If you do not receive an Initial Review Decision letter via mail or email after (2) weeks of submission, please call (760) 943-2299. The City is not responsible for US mail lost or deemed undeliverable.**

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