Q.  Can I be arrested for my unpaid parking ticket?

A.  No. Parking tickets are not criminal offenses in the State of California and you will not be arrested for your unpaid parking ticket. However, there is an additional $25 fine for tickets that are not paid on time and you may be subject to a $3 DMV fee if a hold is placed on the registration of your vehicle. If a hold is placed on the registration of your vehicle you will be unable to register your vehicle until all your outstanding parking tickets have been paid in full. In addition your delinquent unpaid parking tickets may be referred to an outside collection agency for collection proceedings against you.
 

Q.  Can my vehicle be towed for my unpaid parking ticket?

A.  Your vehicle may be towed if you have five (5) or more unpaid parking tickets issued to your license plate.

Q.  I paid my ticket late and was told that the penalty could not be waived. Can I appeal?

A.  No. You cannot appeal the late fee, tickets must be paid within the time prescribed in the California Vehicle Code which is 21 days from the date the ticket was issued or 14 days from the date of the delinquent parking notice. If you moved and did not receive your delinquent parking notice and you failed to submit a change of address with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within 10 days from the date you moved, you will still be held responsible for any additional late charges.

Q.  I wanted to contest my parking ticket but was informed that it was too late. Can I appeal and if so who can I make an appeal to?

A.  No. You cannot appeal your parking ticket if you do not do so within 21 days from the date your parking ticket was issued or 14 days from the date of your notice of delinquent parking. The time allowed to contest your parking ticket is specified in the California Vehicle Code. There are no exceptions unless one of the following conditions exists: your vehicle was stolen at the time the parking ticket was issued or the owner of the vehicle is deceased.

Q.  Can I get an extension on the payment of my parking ticket?

A.  No. Payment extensions are not granted. The Department of Motor Vehicle requires that you pay your ticket in full within 21 days from the date your parking ticket was issued or 14 days from the date of your delinquent parking notice. There are no exceptions.

Q.  Can I perform community service instead of paying for my parking ticket?

A.  No. Parking tickets are not criminal offenses and as such community service cannot be performed in lieu of paying your parking ticket.

Q.  I cannot afford to pay my parking ticket. Can you cancel it?

A.  No. Parking tickets cannot be cancelled due to financial hardship or inability to pay. Additional penalties will be imposed if your ticket is not paid within the prescribed time and a hold may be placed on the registration of your vehicle. In addition your delinquent ticket may be referred to an outside collection agency for collection proceedings against you.

Q.  Where does the City of Pasadena obtain vehicle registered owner information?

The Parking Citation Section obtains vehicle registration information such as the name and address of the vehicle’s registered owner from the California Department of Motor Vehicles. In accordance with the California Vehicle Code you are required by law to provide them with a current mailing address within ten (10) days of a change of address. If you moved and did not provide the Department of Motor Vehicles with your new mailing address within the prescribed time, you will be responsible for any late fees charged to your citation, even if the delinquency notice or Initial Review Outcome letter is mailed to your old address.

Q.  My car was sold. Why do I continue to receive parking tickets when I no longer own the vehicle?

A.  If you were the registered owner of the vehicle at the time you received the parking ticket or notice of delinquent parking, you are responsible for paying the ticket. If you did not own the vehicle when the parking ticket was issued, then it is your responsibility to notify the Department of Motor Vehicles that you sold the vehicle. You are required to submit a release of responsibility form that includes the date you sold the vehicle as well as the name and address of the person that you sold the vehicle to. If you are still receiving parking tickets from the City of Pasadena it probably means that the Department of Motor Vehicles records are still showing that you are the vehicle owner of record. In order to clear the ticket you must complete and submit a Declaration of Non-Ownership form to the Parking Citation Section. You can download the form from our website. Click here to download form

Q.  I paid my ticket at the City’s Parking Citation Section, but when I went to renew my vehicle’s registration I was told that my ticket was still unpaid. If I paid my ticket in your office why isn’t the DMV aware of my payment? What can I do to clear my citation at the DMV?

A.  It takes approximately 30 days from the date you paid your ticket at the City before the Department of Motor Vehicles records will show the payment you made. If you need to obtain your vehicle registration right away you can go to the City’s Parking Citation Section and request an abstract. When you present your abstract along with your vehicle registration fee you may deduct the dollar amount of the ticket from your registration fee. Abstracts will only be given when the Parking Citation Section is able to confirm your payment.

Q.  I received a notice of delinquent parking but I have not visited the City of Pasadena. How do I clear the ticket?

A.  If you received a delinquent parking notice and your vehicle was not in the City of Pasadena on the day the ticket was issued, you must submit and return a copy of your current vehicle registration, notice of delinquent parking and a brief explanation to the Parking Citation Section. The Parking Citation Section will review your vehicle registration along with the vehicle description information on the ticket and will render a decision as to whether or not you are responsible for paying the parking ticket. You will receive written communication from the Parking Citation Section that will provide you with the status of the parking ticket.

Q.  I received a ticket for violation of California Vehicle Code Section 5200 or 5204. What can I do?

A.  If you have proof that you corrected your violation from a California law enforcement officer or agency your fine may be reduced to $10. To qualify for the fine reduction the certificate of correction located on the back of your parking ticket must be completed by the agency or officer and returned in person or by mail with your payment. You may also download a proof of correction form from our website. If you were ticketed for a parking violation and a violation of California Vehicle Code Section 5200 or 5204 you
must respond to both violations before your ticket can be cleared. Click here to download form