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The Parking Citation and Hearing Divisions provide customer service to persons who have received a parking citation or whose vehicle has been towed. The Citation staff conducts administrative reviews to verify the validity of protested citations and assists with alternative payment programs involving community service. The Hearing staff conducts hearings on citations, boots and tows.
We'd like to make the payment process as painless as possible. Instructions for payment by mail, phone or internet are given below. It is important to either make your payment or protest the citation in a timely manner, as late payment penalties can begin to accumulate.
But perhaps you think your citation was issued incorrectly. You have the right to three levels of review, so long as you request these reviews within the time frames outlined by the California Vehicle Code. These levels are: Administrative Review, Administrative Hearing, and de novo hearing in Superior Court. For detailed instructions on the protest process, see below.
Many people don't know that a vehicle with five or more outstanding citations is bootable and towable. You may also be towed for violations such as parking in a towaway zone during commute hours, parking in a yellow zone in the downtown core--or in any truck loading zone in a vehicle with less than six wheels, parking in a red zone, not moving your vehicle more than 1/10 of a mile in a 72 hour period (3 days), and the like. If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, find out how to reclaim your car.
How to Read Your Citation
It is important to read the information on the front and back of your citation:
FRONT
1. Date of Citation
2. Citation Number
3. License Plate Number
4. Time of Citation
5. Registration Expiration Date
6. Location of Violation
7. Meter #
8. Amount Due
9. Description of Violation
10. Officer's Notes
Hand Held Citations:
Image of Front of Hand Held Citation
Image of Back of Hand Held Citation
Hand Written Citations:
Image of Front of Hand Written Citation
Image of Back of Hand Written Citation
Payment
DMV payment:
If your DMV registration is on “hold” due to the delinquent parking citations, the citations should be paid at 11 South Van Ness Avenue, where you can obtain proof of payment to present to DMV and then register your vehicle. If you have paid for your delinquent Parking Citations at DMV, please be aware this payment record will not appear in our citation processing database for six (6) to eight (8) weeks. If you have 5 or more outstanding citations, your vehicle will be eligible for a “boot” during that period. If you have paid your citations at DMV and then your vehicle is “booted”, you will have to pay those citations again. When we receive payment from DMV you will then be eligible to apply for a refund.
by mail:
Using the envelope provided with the ticket, send check or money order for the amount of the citation to P.O. Box 7718, San Francisco, CA 94120-7718. (Do not use this address or the envelope provided with the ticket if you are sending in a protest of the citation or if you are sending in payment and proof of compliance for a fix-it ticket.)
by phone:
You may use your Mastercard, Visa or American Express to pay by calling 415.701-3099 (within the 415 area code) or 800-531-7357 (outside the 415 area code). There is a vendor processing fee of $2.75 per citation for phone payments.
by internet:
Mastercard and Visa may also be used to pay citations via the internet. There is no additional fee for internet payments. Visit Online Services to make an internet payment. Search by license plate or citation number for unpaid tickets--only unpaid tickets will be returned in the search.
Alternative Payment:
If you cannot afford to pay your parking fines, you may be eligible to perform volunteer work by enrolling in "Project 20," a community service program to work off the parking fines. A three-month payment plan may also be an option. To sign up for Project 20 you must first go to 11 South Van Ness Avenue, Monday - Friday, between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. After signing a contract outlining terms and amounts, you will be sent to the Project 20 offices on 7th Street, near the Hall of Justice. Project 20 will charge an administrative fee. Community service and payment plans are not an option if your vehicle has been booted or towed and you are trying to reclaim it.
"Fix-it" (Compliance) Tickets:
If you have been cited for VC5200 "no plates" or VC5204A "expired tabs" you may provide proof of compliance/correction and pay a $10 transaction fee. For a "no plates" violation, have the plate(s) affixed to your vehicle and have any law enforcement officer sign off on the back of the ticket. If you do not still have the ticket available you may use our downloadable form (.pdf). Be sure to write the citation number on your check, and send proof of compliance/correction with the $10 fee to:
DPT Citation Division
attn: Correspondence Department
11 South Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94103
Please note that if proof of correction/compliance and the $10 fee is not sent in within 21 days, you will be responsible for late payment penalties that may accrue and the amount will be returned to the original fine amount.
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The Parking Citation Protest Process
Parking citations were decriminalized on November 1, 1993. Thus no bench warrants are issued for "failure to appear" and "bail" has become a civil penalty. Citations are issued to your vehicle or mailed to the registered owner's address as given by the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Administrative Review
- Do not pay a citation if you wish to protest it.
- Follow the instructions on the citation, and mail your explanation to: Administrative Review, 11 South Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94103. Do not use the envelope provided with the citation; this envelope is for submitting payment only.
- You have twenty-one (21) days from the issuance of the citation, or twenty-one (21) days from the mailing date of the first mailed notice of the citation, to protest. We use the postmark on your envelope to verify timely action and determine assessment of late penalties.
- Fines are not added to the original fee amount while the citation is under review, assuming your challenge is received in a timely manner.
- Your protest will be evaluated and you will be notified by mail as to whether the citation is valid or will be dismissed. If necessary, a field or other investigatory survey will be conducted at this level of review.
If you receive a denial of your protest, you may pay the original fine without any late penalties by the deadline stated in the denial letter.
Administrative Hearing
- If you wish to further protest, you have twenty-one (21) days from the mailing date of the denial letter to either appear in person or send in a request for a mail hearing to the Hearing Division.
- If you opt for an in-person hearing, you must come to 11 South Van Ness Avenue, Monday - Friday, between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. California Vehicle Code requires a deposit of the citation amount prior to a hearing. You must pay the clerk with cash or credit card only. If you are unable to post the penalty please bring proof of your indigence. A hearing will then be conducted on a first-come, first-serve basis. A hearing officer will decide whether to dismiss the citation (a refund will be mailed) or to deny your protest. Sometimes a decision will be mailed pending the outcome of a survey or other investigation.
- You may choose instead to have a mail hearing. Many people who cannot afford to take time from work or other duties opt for a mail hearing. Send in your explanation of events and any evidence you may have, along with check or money order for the citation amount (again, a deposit of the citation amount is required by the California Vehicle Code), to the Hearing Division, 11 South Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94103. A hearing officer will evaluate your protest and respond with a decision by mail. A refund will of course be issued if he or she decides in your favor.
de novo Hearing
- If you were denied at the Administrative Hearing level, you have thirty (30) days from the date of the hearing decision to appear at Superior Court, 850 Bryant Street, Room 101, Monday - Friday, between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm, to request a de novo hearing in front of a traffic judge/commissioner/referee.
- Bring all documents regarding the citation with you. Upon your appearance, a court date will be assigned. A $25 per citation filing fee is charged by the Superior Court. If the judge rules in your favor, the citation fine and court filing fees will be refunded by mail.
- Meters on Port Property are enforced 7 days per week throughout the year.
- **FW -- enforcement of Fisherman's Wharf meters only
Hazards are always ticketable and towable
Moving Violations
The Department of Parking & Traffic does not deal with moving violations. We are involved with the issuance and adjudication of parking citations only. For information on moving violations, please contact the Traffic Division of Superior Court : Moving Citation Information and Warrant Information 415.553.9400. Their offices are located at the Hall of Justice, 850 Bryant Street, Room 101, San Francisco, CA 94103.
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