Initial Review- To Contest a Citation at the First Level (California Vehicle Code 40215.(a).

If you wish to contest a parking citation, you must request a review within 21 days of the issuance date. You may click the “Contest A Parking Citation” button to submit your request. Documents may be attached for review.

When contesting, you must indicate the reason(s) for requesting an Administrative Review and include copies of all supporting documents (documents will not be returned) relating to the citation, i.e., photographs, permit holder information, witness statements, etc. The Administrative Review process must be followed in order to contest a parking citation.

Administrative Hearing - To Contest a Citation at the Second Level (CVC 40215.(b).

If the citation has been reviewed in the first Initial Review and you are not satisfied with the results, you may request an Administrative Hearing. You will be required to pay the full amount of the parking citation by the due date on the Upheld Notice. The Hearing request may be made by internet, mail, phone, or in-person and must be requested by the due date of the Notice.

The request must indicate whether you are requesting a Hearing in-person or by mail. If you request the Hearing in-person, you will be notified of the date and time of the Hearing and you must appear at that time. If you request a Hearing by written declaration, you may submit additional documents prior to the Hearing for consideration by the Hearing Officer. You will be notified by mail of the decision by the Hearing Officer. If you are not satisfied with the decision you have the right to file an appeal in Superior Court. If you have not received the results within 2 weeks of the Administrative Hearing, it is your responsibility to follow up.

If the Hearing Officer dismisses the citation, the City of Whittier will issue a refund for the full amount paid for the parking citation.

Superior Court- To contest a Citation at the Third Level (CVC 40230.(a).

40230.(a)Within 30 calendar days after the mailing or personal delivery of the final decision described in subdivision (b) of Section 40215, the contestant may seek review by filing an appeal to be heard by the municipal court, or by the superior court in a county in which there is no municipal court, where the same shall be heard de novo, except that the contents of the processing agency's file in the case shall be received in evidence. A copy of the notice of parking violation or, if the citation was issued electronically, a true and correct abstract containing the information set forth in the notice of parking violation shall be admitted into evidence as prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. A copy of the notice of appeal shall be served in person or by first-class mail upon the processing agency by the contestant. For purposes of computing the 30-calendar-day period, Section 1013 of the Code of Civil Procedure shall be applicable. A proceeding under this subdivision is a limited civil case.

Contest a Parking Citation