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Citations and Enforcement

How to Pay a Parking Citation
Parking citations may be paid by personal check, money order or credit card (convenience fee charged). Instructions for each option are listed below. To contest your parking citation, you must follow the Administrative Review Process.

PAYMENT OPTIONS
1. Pay Citation by Check of Money Order:
To pay your citation with a personal check or money order. (no cash accepted). Mail the citation with the appropriate payment to: City of Monterey, Office of Parking Violations,
P.O. BOX 1930, San Jose, Ca. 95109

2. Pay Citation with Credit Card: Citations may be paid with a credit card (Visa or MasterCard) over the phone or through the internet.
Pay with CC by Phone: Dial toll free 1-855-597-5252. Please have your citation number or license plate number available. The City's citation processor uses pticket.com/monterey, which charges a convenience fee of $3.95 per transaction for citations
Pay with CC Online: Please have your citation number or license plate number available. The City's citation processor uses pticket.com, which charges a convenience fee of $3.95 per transaction for citations.

DISCLAIMER: Please note that by clicking on the link to pay your parking citation online, you are leaving the City of Monterey official website and entering a website maintained by a third party vendor for the City of Monterey.

Pay your citation by credit card
Enforcement
The City of Monterey's Parking Division manages parking to ensure reasonable access and turnover for residents and visitors. Parking enforcement plays a vital role to ensure that the street is used in the best interests of the community.  A well-designed enforcement effort enables the City to maximize its use of the existing parking supply. Find information here and in the Quick Links about parking regulations, parking meters and lots, parking tickets, and more.

Among the activities performed by Parking Enforcement Section:
  • Patrol a designated route or area of the City and enforce the City Uniform Traffic Ordinance with regard to parking.
  • Issue citations with hand-held computer to vehicles parked illegally, such as loading zone violations, no-parking zones, fire lane violations, double parking, expired time zones, expired parking meters, disabled ped parking, etc.
  • Detect and report malfunctioning parking meters to the Parking Operations Maintenance Section.
  • Public relations; interpret policy/procedure to the public; assist public regarding location of streets, buildings and other points of interest around town.
The primary objectives of enforcement are:
  • Support the On-Street Parking system by equitably and consistently enforcing the parking regulations.
  • Encourage compliance of the City's parking regulations.
  • Promote traffic and pedestrian safety.
  • Maximize the capacity of the existing parking supply through increased turnover.
  • Protect access needed for commerce and public convenience; clear freight loading zones of all day commuters to allow adequate delivery space for commercial businesses; provide for a more efficient delivery of goods and services.
  • Enhance the quality of life in residential neighborhoods by keeping residential areas free of downtown commuters and visitor parking.
How to Contest a Citation
The City of Monterey follows the process as established by the State of California to contest a parking citation (CVC 40215). To contest a citation you must start with Level 1, Administrative Review. You MUST contest your citation within 21-calendar days of the date the citation was issued or 14-calendar days from the mailing of the Delinquent Parking Violation Notice.

Level 1 - Administrative Review
Level 2 - Administrative Hearing
Level 3 - Court Appeal

LEVEL 1 - ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW
You must request an Administrative Review within 21-calendar days of receiving the citation or 14-calendar days from the mailing of the Delinquent Parking Violation Notice. The City of Monterey Parking Division conducts the initial review of your citation. You do not need to submit payment for the citation at this time.

You can request a review by mail, telephone or in person at the Parking Division Office. To request a review by mail, download the Administrative Review Form and mail it to: 
City Of Monterey, Office of Parking Violations, P.O. BOX 1930, San Jose, CA 95109

The Administrative Review Form is also available at the Parking Division Office, 340 Tyler Street, Monterey. To request Administrative Review information by telephone, please call the number provided on the face of your parking citation. You must indicate your reasons for requesting an Administrative Review and include copies of all supporting documentation (documentation will not be returned) relating to the citation, i.e., photographs, Disabled Placard, ID card, permit holder information, etc. Do not included payment for your violation. Based on the written information / evidence you have provided, the Parking Division will determine if there is sufficient proof to rule that the violation did not occur or extenuating circumstances prevented you from complying. If your citation is found to be “Not Valid” you will be sent written notification that the citation has been dismissed. Your citation will be cancelled and you do not need to take any further action.

If your citation is found to be “Valid” you will be sent written notification and you can accept the decision and pay the bail fee. If you are not satisfied with the results of the Administrative Review, you may request that a Administrative Hearing be scheduled with a Hearing Officer review your citation by returning the bottom portion of the letter notifying you of the result. State Law requires that you pay all fines owed on the citation before you can request an Administrative Hearing. If the Hearing Officer finds in your favor, you will be issued a refund.

LEVEL 2 - ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING
If you are not satisfied with the results of the Administrative Review, you may request an Administrative Hearing either in person or by written declaration. You must request an Administrative Hearing within 21-calendar days of the date of the Administrative Review decision. After 21 days you are no longer entitled to an Administrative Hearing. You may request an Administrative Hearing in-person or by written declaration. By selecting a written declaration you need not be present for the Hearing.

State Law requires that you pay all fines owed on the citation before you can request an Administrative Hearing. If the Hearing Officer finds in your favor, you will be issued a refund. If for financial reasons you can not pay your bail, you may request a waiver of the penalty prior to an Administrative Hearing. More information about inability to pay your citation.
After you request an Administrative Hearing, the Hearing Officer will be provided with a case folder which contains all information relevant to your citation, including:

  • A copy of the parking citation.
  • Any correspondence received by the City Monterey concerning the citation.
  • The results of any investigations conducted during the Initial Review process.
  • A complete computer record of all calls received and notices sent
IN-PERSON HEARING PROCEEDINGS
In-person hearings are scheduled once a month. Please plan to arrive 10 minutes early to sign-in and allow time for unexpected travel delays. You may bring any witnesses, records, or documents with you that are applicable to your case. The contestant must provide any interpreters needed, including sign language. Any additional documents, relating to the appeal of your citation must be submitted at the time of your hearing. No extensions will be granted to submit further documentation. Documentation will not be returned.

The Hearing Officer will review this information, and will also listen to your explanation of why the citation should be dismissed. You will be notified by mail of the Hearing Officer's determination. If the Hearing Officer determines you are not liable for the citation, you will be issued a refund. If the Hearing Officer determines you are liable, you may accept the decision and the bail paid will be applied to the citation or you may request an appeal with the Superior Court.

WRITTEN DECLARATION HEARING PROCEEDINGS
A Hearing Examiner will review your Written Declaration. When your hearing has been completed you will receive the decision by mail. If the Hearing Officer determines you are not liable for the citation, you will be issued a refund. If the Hearing Officer determines you are liable, you may accept the decision and the bail paid will be applied to the citation or you may request an appeal with the Superior Court.
LEVEL 3 - COURT APPEAL
Per California Vehicle Code 40230, if you are found liable by the Hearing Officer and wish to continue contesting the citation, you may appeal the decision at Superior Court. You must request an appeal within 30-calendar days of mailing of the Hearing Officer's decision. You must file for the appeal in person at the Superior Court. There is a $25 filing fee per citation required by the Court, which will be refunded to you, if the judge rules in your favor. You will also need to present the written Administrative Hearing decision at the time the appeal is filed. The written Administrative Hearing decision is submitted as evidence for the court appeal.

Parking citation appeals may be filed at: The Superior Court of California, County of Monterey, Marina Division, 3180 Del Monte Boulevard, Marina, CA 93933, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

You may not skip the Administrative Review or Administrative Hearing and file immediately for a Superior Court ruling.

Violation Resolution No. Amount
Expired Meter 20-99 $48.00
Time Limit 20-79, 80 $48.00
Loading Zone 20-89, 90 $48.00
Parked Over Line 20-84, 90 $48.00
Failure to Pay Fee 20-112.2 $48.00
No Parking Zone 20-66 $125.00
Disabled Parking Zone 20-37.4 $350.00

All fines include a mandatory surcharge by the State of California of $12.50 per citation.
Booting, Towing, AutoVu
The City of Monterey with written permission and when called, will enforce the prohibited use of private parking lots by persons not authorized by the owners. The City requires that new or expanded business establishments construct and maintain parking lots to serve their customers and employees. If the use of these lots is not regulated and limited to persons authorized to use such lots by the owners thereof, it will defeat the purpose of the parking requirements imposed by the zoning ordinance and be an injustice to the persons who construct and maintain such lots.

Whenever a private parking lot is posted and signed in accordance with City Code Sections 20-86.1 to 20-86.4 it shall be unlawful for any person to stop, stand or park any motor vehicle in such parking lot without permission or authorization from the owner of such lot. For the purposes of these regulations, the term "owner" shall include tenant, lessee, agent or other person having lawful control or possession of the premises. Private Parking Code Sign Description 

THE BOOT
The boot is a device used to immobilize vehicles that have accumulated five or more unpaid parking violations. California Vehicle Code Section 22651.7(a) gives authorization for the towing or booting of a vehicle when citations are issued and remain unpaid. Should your vehicle get booted for outstanding citations, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MOVE IT...SEVERE DAMAGE WILL RESULT TO YOUR VEHICLE. To have the boot removed you must pay all your outstanding parking violations. Payment can be made at City of Monterey Revenue Division, 735 Pacific Street, (831) 646-3944.

Upon payment a boot removal crew will meet you at your car and release it. If the boot remains on your vehicle for 72 hours your car will be towed and you will be liable for towing and storage costs in addition to the amount owed for outstanding parking citations.

TOWED VEHICLES
Vehicles that have been towed for violations of the Monterey City Code and /or the California Vehicle Code are done by the Monterey Police Department. For information and/or to obtain a release for a towed vehicle, please call (831) 646-3830.

AUTO VUE SYSTEM
The Parking Division uses a parking scooter equipped with AutoVu Mobile, a Mobile License Plate Recognition parking enforcement system. The system automates the current tire chalking and ticket citation process. The system integrates License Plate Recognition, image capture and Global Positioning System (GPS) technology into a complete and accurate vehicle parking enforcement system.

The Parking Enforcement Officer will patrol their assigned area in a parking scooter specially equipped with four cameras, two on the roof and two over the bumpers, a GPS antenna and computer. As the officer drives down the street, the position of the vehicle, the vehicles' image, location, time/date, and actual plate number are read and logged in the system. When the officer returns to the location a second time, the plates will be scanned again and an alarm will notify the officer when it detects a parking violation based on time/location data using the License Plate Recognition and Global Positioning System. Using a monitor mounted in the scooter, the officer will make a visual confirmation that the license plate matches, as well as actual pictures of the vehicle's position that was recorded during each pass by the officer.

The benefit of the system is two fold, a chalk less system will greatly reduce the potential industrial injuries that are associated with chalking tires by hand. This system will also allow an Enforcement Officer to cover a larger area in less time, which enables us to patrol and enforce, on a more regular basis, the residential parking programs.

Please remember, parking citations are issued based on the specific time limit of the space that your vehicle parked in and the amount of time it has been there. A chalk mark on a tire is nothing more than a reference point for the Parking Enforcement Officer to enforce the time limit.
2024 Parking Holiday Schedule
Parking-Holiday-Schedule