ARTICLE 3. Procedure on Parking Violations [40200. - 40230.]

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH 3.
in effect

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 40200. Section 40200.

(a) Any violation of any regulation that is not a misdemeanor governing the standing or parking of a vehicle under this code, under any federal statute or regulation, or under any ordinance enacted by local authorities is subject to a civil penalty. The enforcement of those civil penalties shall be governed by the civil administrative procedures set forth in this article. (b) Except as provided in Section 40209, the registered owner and driver, rentee, or lessee of a vehicle cited for any violation of any regulation governing the parking of a vehicle under this code, under any federal statute or regulation, or under any ordinance enacted by a local authority shall be jointly liable for parking penalties imposed under this article, unless the owner can show that the vehicle was used without consent of that person, express or implied. An owner who pays any parking penalty, civil judgment, costs, or administrative fees pursuant to this article shall have the right to recover the same from the driver, rentee, or lessee. (c) The driver of a vehicle who is not the owner thereof but who uses or operates the vehicle with the express or implied permission of the owner shall be considered the agent of the owner to receive notices of parking violations served in accordance with this article and may contest the notice of violation.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 40200.3. Section 40200.3.

(a) All parking penalties collected by the processing agency, which may be the issuing agency, including process service fees and fees and collection costs related to civil debt collection, shall be deposited to the account of the issuing agency, except that those sums attributable to the issuance of a notice of parking violation by a peace officer of the Department of the California Highway Patrol shall be deposited in the account in the jurisdiction where the violation occurred, and except those sums payable to a county pursuant to Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 76000) of Title 8 of the Government Code and that portion of any parking penalty which is attributable to an increase in the parking bail amount effective between September 16, 1988, and July 1, 1992, inclusive, pursuant to Section 1463.28 of the Penal Code. Those funds attributable to this increase in bail shall be transferred to the county treasurer and deposited in the general fund. Any increase in parking penalties effective after July 1, 1992, shall accrue to the benefit of the issuing agency. (b) The processing agency shall prepare a report at the end of each fiscal year setting forth the number of cases processed, and all sums received and distributed, together with any other information that may be required by the issuing agency or the Controller. This report is a public record and shall be delivered to each issuing agency. Copies shall be made available, upon request, to the county auditor, the Controller, and the grand jury.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 40200.4. Section 40200.4.

(a) The processing agency shall deposit with the county treasurer all sums due the county as the result of processing a parking violation not later than 45 calendar days after the last day of the month in which the parking penalty was received. (b) Except as provided in subdivisions (c) and (d), if a court within a county has been processing notices of parking violations and notices of delinquent parking violations for a city, a district, or any other issuing agency, the issuing agency and the county shall provide in an agreement for the orderly transfer of the processing activity as soon as possible but not later than January 1, 1994. The agreement shall permit the court to phase out, and the issuing agency to phase in, or transfer, personnel, equipment, and facilities that may have been acquired or need to be acquired in contemplation of a long-term commitment to processing of notices of parking violations and notices of delinquent parking violations for the issuing agency under this article. The court shall transfer the processing function for parking citations issued by the Department of the California Highway Patrol to the processing agency in the city or county where the violation occurred. (c) If Contra Costa County or San Mateo County, or a court in either county, had a contract in effect on January 1, 1992, to process notices of parking violations and notices of delinquent parking violations for a city, district, or other issuing agency within the particular county or counties, the county may continue to provide those services to the issuing agencies pursuant to the terms of the contract and any amendments thereto, to and including June 30, 1996, after which Section 40200.5 shall govern any contracts entered into for these services. (d) San Francisco Municipal Court employees engaged in processing notices of parking violations and the positions of those employees shall be transferred to equivalent civil service positions in the City and County of San Francisco. (e) No court employee shall be terminated or otherwise released from employment as a result of the transfer of processing notices of parking violations and notices of delinquent parking violations from the courts to the issuing agencies. (f) As used in this article, “parking penalty” includes the fine authorized by law, including assessments authorized by this article, any late payment penalty, and costs of collection as provided by law.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 40200.5. Section 40200.5.

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (c) of Section 40200.4, an issuing agency may elect to contract with the county, with a private vendor, or with any other city or county processing agency, other than the Department of the California Highway Patrol or other state law enforcement agency, within the county, with the consent of that other entity, for the processing of notices of parking violations and notices of delinquent parking violations, prior to filing with the court pursuant to Section 40230. If an issuing agency contracts with a private vendor for processing services, it shall give special consideration to minority business enterprise participation in providing those services. For purposes of this subdivision, “special consideration” has the same meaning as specified in subdivision (c) of Section 14838 of the Government Code, as it relates to small business preference. (b) A contract entered pursuant to subdivision (a) shall provide for monthly distribution of amounts collected between the parties, except those amounts payable to a county pursuant to Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 76000) of Title 8 of the Government Code and amounts payable to the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to Section 4763 of this code. (c) If a contract entered into pursuant to subdivision (a) includes the provision of qualified examiners or administrative hearing providers, the contract shall be based on either a fixed monthly rate or on the number of notices processed and shall not include incentives for the processing entity based on the number of notices upheld or denied or the amount of fines collected.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 40200.6. Section 40200.6.

(a) If a contract is entered into pursuant to Section 40200.5, for the purposes of this article, “processing agency” means the contracting party responsible for the processing of the notices of parking violations and notices of delinquent parking violations. (b) The governing body of the issuing agency shall establish written policies and procedures pursuant to which the contracting party shall provide services. (c) The issuing agency shall be responsible for all actions taken by contracting parties and shall exercise effective oversight over the parties. “Effective oversight” includes, at a minimum, an annual review of the services of the processing agency and a review of complaints made by motorists using the services of the processing agency. The issuing agency shall establish procedures to investigate and resolve complaints by motorists about any processing agency. (d) Subdivision (c) does not apply to an issuing agency that is a law enforcement agency if the issuing agency does not also act as the processing agency.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 40200.8. Section 40200.8.

The parking processing agency shall notify the department and recall any hold on the registration of a vehicle that it filed with the department in connection with a parking citation if the processing agency is awarded a civil judgment for the citation pursuant to subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 40220, or if the processing agency has granted a review of the issuance of the citation pursuant to Section 40200.7 or Section 40215.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 40202. Section 40202.

(a) If a vehicle is unattended during the time of the violation, the peace officer or person authorized to enforce parking laws and regulations shall securely attach to the vehicle a notice of parking violation setting forth the violation, including reference to the section of this code or of the Public Resources Code, the local ordinance, or the federal statute or regulation so violated; the date; the approximate time thereof; the location where the violation occurred; a statement printed on the notice indicating that the date of payment is required to be made not later than 21 calendar days from the date of citation issuance; and the procedure for the registered owner, lessee, or rentee to deposit the parking penalty or, pursuant to Section 40215, contest the citation. The notice of parking violation shall also set forth the vehicle license number and registration expiration date if they are visible, the last four digits of the vehicle identification number, if that number is readable through the windshield, the color of the vehicle, and, if possible, the make of the vehicle. The notice of parking violation, or copy thereof, shall be considered a record kept in the ordinary course of business of the issuing agency and the processing agency and shall be prima facie evidence of the facts contained therein. (b) The notice of parking violation shall be served by attaching it to the vehicle either under the windshield wiper or in another conspicuous place upon the vehicle so as to be easily observed by the person in charge of the vehicle upon the return of that person. (c) Once the issuing officer has prepared the notice of parking violation and has attached it to the vehicle as provided in subdivisions (a) and (b), the officer shall file the notice with the processing agency. Any person, including the issuing officer and any member of the officer’s department or agency, or any peace officer who alters, conceals, modifies, nullifies, or destroys, or causes to be altered, concealed, modified, nullified, or destroyed the face of the remaining original or any copy of a citation that was retained by the officer, for any reason, before it is filed with the processing agency or with a person authorized to receive the deposit of the parking penalty, is guilty of a misdemeanor. (d) If, during the issuance of a notice of parking violation, without regard to whether the vehicle was initially attended or unattended, the vehicle is driven away prior to attaching the notice to the vehicle, the issuing officer shall file the notice with the processing agency. The processing agency shall mail, within 15 calendar days of issuance of the notice of parking violation, a copy of the notice of parking violation or transmit an electronic facsimile of the notice to the registered owner. (e) If, within 21 days after the notice of parking violation is attached to the vehicle, the issuing officer or the issuing agency determines that, in the interest of justice, the notice of parking violation should be canceled, the issuing agency, pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 40215, shall cancel the notice of parking violation or, if the issuing agency has contracted with a processing agency, shall notify the processing agency to cancel the notice of parking violation pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 40215. The reason for the cancellation shall be set forth in writing. If, after a copy of the notice of parking violation is attached to the vehicle, the issuing officer determines that there is incorrect data on the notice, including, but not limited to, the date or time, the issuing officer may indicate in writing, on a form attached to the original notice, the necessary correction to allow for the timely entry of the notice on the processing agency’s data system. A copy of the correction shall be mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle. (f) Under no circumstances shall a personal relationship with any officer, public official, or law enforcement agency be grounds for cancellation.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 40203. Section 40203.

The notice of parking violation shall be accompanied by a written notice of the amount of the parking penalty due for that violation, the address of the person authorized to receive a deposit of the parking penalty, a statement in bold print that payments of the parking penalty for the parking violation may be sent through the mail, and instructions on obtaining information on the procedures to contest the notice of parking violation.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 40203.5. Section 40203.5.

(a) The schedule of parking penalties for parking violations and late payment penalties shall be established by the governing body of the jurisdiction where the notice of violation is issued. To the extent possible, issuing agencies within the same county shall standardize parking penalties. (b) Parking penalties under this article shall be collected as civil penalties. (c) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) the penalty for a violation of Section 22507.8 or an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to Section 22511.57 shall be not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). (2) The issuing agency may suspend the imposition of the penalty in paragraph (1), if the violator, at the time of the offense, possesses but failed to display a valid special identification license plate issued pursuant to Section 5007 or a distinguishing placard issued pursuant to Section 22511.55 or 22511.59. (3) A penalty imposed pursuant to this subdivision may be paid in installments if the issuing agency determines that the violator is unable to pay the entire amount in one payment.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 40203.6. Section 40203.6.

(a) In addition to an assessment levied pursuant to any other law, an additional assessment equal to 10 percent of the penalty established pursuant to Section 40203.5 shall be imposed by the governing body of the jurisdiction where the notice of parking violation is issued for a civil violation of any of the following: (1) Subdivisions (b), (c), and (d) of Section 4461. (2) Subdivision (c) of Section 4463. (3) Section 22507.8. (4) An ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to Section 22511.57. (5) Section 22522. (b) An assessment imposed pursuant to this section shall be deposited with the city or county where the violation occurred.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 40204. Section 40204.

(a) If the parking penalty is received by the person authorized to receive the deposit of the parking penalty and there is no contest as to that parking violation, the proceedings under this article shall terminate. (b) The issuing agency may, consistent with the written guidelines established by the agency, allow payment of the parking penalty in installments if the violator provides evidence satisfactory to the issuing agency of an inability to pay the parking penalty in full.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 40206. Section 40206.

(a) If the payment of the parking penalty is not received by the person authorized to receive a deposit of the parking penalty by the date fixed on the notice of parking violation under Section 40202, the processing agency shall deliver to the registered owner a notice of delinquent parking violation. (b) Delivery of a notice of delinquent parking violation under this section may be made by personal service or by first-class mail addressed to the registered owner, as shown on records of the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 40206.5. Section 40206.5.

(a) Within 15 days of a request, by mail or in person, the processing agency shall mail or otherwise provide to any person who has received a notice of delinquent parking violation, or his or her agent, a photostatic copy of the original notice of parking violation or an electronically produced facsimile of the original notice of parking violation. The issuing agency may charge a fee sufficient to recover the actual cost of providing the copy, not to exceed two dollars ($2). Until the issuing agency complies with a request for a copy of the original notice of parking violation, the processing agency may not proceed pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 22651, Section 22651.7, or Section 40220. (b) If the description of the vehicle on the notice of parking violation does not substantially match the corresponding information on the registration card for that vehicle and the processing agency is satisfied that the vehicle has not been incorrectly described due to the intentional switching of license plates, the processing agency shall, on written request of the person cancel the notice of parking violation without the necessity of an appearance by that person. (c) For purposes of this section, a copy of the notice of parking violation may be a photostatic copy or an electronically produced facsimile.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 40207. Section 40207.

(a) The notice of delinquent parking violation shall contain the information specified in subdivision (a) of Section 40202 or subdivision (a) of Section 40248, as applicable, and Section 40203, and, additionally shall contain a notice to the registered owner that, unless the registered owner pays the parking penalty or contests the citation within 21 calendar days from the date of issuance of the citation or 14 calendar days after the mailing of the notice of delinquent parking violation or completes and files an affidavit of nonliability that complies with Section 40208 or 40209, the renewal of the vehicle registration shall be contingent upon compliance with the notice of delinquent parking violation. If the registered owner, by appearance or by mail, makes payment to the processing agency within 21 calendar days from the date of issuance of the citation or 14 calendar days after the mailing of the notice of delinquent parking violation, the parking penalty shall consist solely of the amount of the original penalty. Additional fees, assessments, or other charges shall not be added. (b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 40208. Section 40208.

The notice of delinquent parking violation shall contain, or be accompanied with, an affidavit of nonliability and information of what constitutes nonliability, information as to the effect of executing the affidavit, and instructions for returning the affidavit to the issuing agency.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 40209. Section 40209.

If the affidavit of nonliability is returned to the processing agency within 30 calendar days of the mailing of the notice of delinquent parking violation together with the proof of a written lease or rental agreement between a bona fide rental or leasing company, and its customer which identifies the rentee or lessee and provides the driver’s license number, name, and address of the rentee or lessee, the processing agency shall serve or mail to the rentee or lessee identified in the affidavit of nonliability a notice of delinquent parking violation. If payment is not received within 21 calendar days from the date of issuance of the citation or 14 calendar days after the mailing of the notice of delinquent parking violation, the processing agency may proceed against the rentee or lessee pursuant to Section 40220.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 40210. Section 40210.

(a) If the affidavit of nonliability is returned and indicates that the registered owner served has made a bona fide sale or transfer of the vehicle and has delivered possession of the vehicle to the purchaser prior to the date of the alleged violation, the processing agency shall obtain verification from the department that the registered owner has complied with Section 5602. (b) If the registered owner has complied with Section 5602, the processing agency shall cancel the notice of delinquent parking violation or violations with respect to the registered owner. (c) If the registered owner has not complied with Section 5602, the processing agency shall inform the registered owner that the citation shall be paid in full or contested pursuant to Section 40215 unless the registered owner delivers evidence within 15 days of the notice that establishes that the transfer of ownership and possession of the vehicle occurred prior to the date of the alleged violation. If the registered owner does not comply with this notice, the processing agency shall proceed pursuant to Section 40220. If the registered owner delivers the evidence within 15 days of the notice, the processing agency shall cancel the notice of delinquent parking violation or violations with respect to the registered owner. (d) For purposes of subdivision (c), evidence sufficient to establish that the transfer of ownership and possession occurred prior to the date of the alleged violation or violations shall include, but is not limited to, a copy of the executed agreement showing the date of the transfer of vehicle ownership. (e) This section does not limit or impair the ability or the right of the processing agency to pursue the collection of delinquent parking penalties from the person having ownership and possession of the vehicle on the date the alleged violation occurred.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 40211. Section 40211.

(a) If the registered owner, or an agent of the registered owner, or a rentee or lessee who was served with the notice of delinquent parking violation pursuant to Section 40206 or Section 40209, or any other person who presents the notice of parking violation or notice of delinquent parking violation after the notice of delinquent parking violation has been issued for delivery under Section 40206, deposits the parking penalty with a person authorized to receive it, the processing agency shall do both of the following: (1) Deliver a copy of one of the following: the notice of delinquent parking violation issued under Section 40206; a true and correct abstract containing the information set forth in the notice of parking violation if the citation was issued electronically; or an electronically reproduced listing of the citation information presented in a notice of delinquent parking violation to the person and record the name, address, and driver’s license number of the person actually given the copy in the records of the issuing agency. For the purposes of this paragraph, a copy of the notice of delinquent parking violation may be a photostatic copy. (2) Determine whether the notice of delinquent parking violation has been filed with the department pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 40220 or a civil judgment has been entered pursuant to Section 40220. (b) If the notice of delinquent parking violation has not been filed with the department or judgment entered and payment of the parking penalty, including any applicable assessments, is received, the proceedings under this article shall terminate. (c) If the notice of delinquent parking violation has been filed with the department, has been returned under subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 4760 or Section 4764, and payment of the parking penalty together with the administrative service fee of the processing agency for costs of service and any applicable assessments is received, the proceedings under this article shall terminate. (d) If the notice of delinquent parking violation has been filed with the department and has not been returned under Section 4760, 4762, and 4764, and payment of the parking penalty for, and any applicable costs of, service in connection with civil debt collection, is received by the processing agency, the processing agency shall do all of the following: (1) Deliver a certificate of payment to the registered owner, the agent, the lessee, or the rentee or other person making the payment. (2) Immediately transmit the payment information to the department in the manner prescribed by the department. (3) Terminate proceedings on the notice of delinquent parking violation. (4) Transmit for deposit all parking penalties and assessments in accordance with law.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 40215. Section 40215.

(a) For a period of 21 calendar days from the issuance of a notice of parking violation or 14 calendar days from the mailing of a notice of delinquent parking violation, exclusive of any days from the day the processing agency receives a request for a copy or facsimile of the original notice of parking violation pursuant to Section 40206.5 and the day the processing agency complies with the request, a person may request an initial review of the notice by the issuing agency. The request may be made by telephone, in writing, or in person. There shall not be a charge for this review. If, following the initial review, the issuing agency is satisfied that the violation did not occur, that the registered owner was not responsible for the violation, or that extenuating circumstances make dismissal of the citation appropriate in the interest of justice, the issuing agency shall cancel the notice of parking violation or notice of delinquent parking violation. The issuing agency shall advise the processing agency, if any, of the cancellation. The issuing agency or the processing agency shall mail the results of the initial review to the person contesting the notice, and, if following that review, cancellation of the notice does not occur, include a reason for that denial, notification of the ability to request an administrative hearing, and notice of the procedure adopted pursuant to subdivision (b) for waiving prepayment of the parking penalty based upon an inability to pay. (b) If the person is dissatisfied with the results of the initial review, the person may request an administrative hearing of the violation no later than 21 calendar days following the mailing of the results of the issuing agency’s initial review. The request may be made by telephone, in writing, or in person. The person requesting an administrative hearing shall deposit the amount of the parking penalty with the processing agency. The issuing agency shall adopt a written procedure to allow a person who is indigent, as defined in Section 40220, to request an administrative hearing without payment of the parking penalty upon satisfactory proof of an inability to pay the amount due. An administrative hearing shall be held within 90 calendar days following the receipt of a request for an administrative hearing, excluding time tolled pursuant to this article. The person requesting the hearing may request one continuance, not to exceed 21 calendar days. (c) The administrative hearing process shall include all of the following: (1) The person requesting a hearing shall have the choice of a hearing by mail, in person, or, if offered by the issuing agency, by telephone or electronic means. An in-person hearing shall be conducted within the jurisdiction of the issuing agency. If an issuing agency contracts with an administrative provider, in-person hearings shall be held within the jurisdiction of the issuing agency or within the county of the issuing agency. (2) If the person requesting a hearing is a minor, that person shall be permitted to appear at a hearing or admit responsibility for the parking violation without the necessity of the appointment of a guardian. The processing agency may proceed against the minor in the same manner as against an adult. (3) The administrative hearing shall be conducted in accordance with written procedures established by the issuing agency and approved by the governing body or chief executive officer of the issuing agency. The hearing shall provide an independent, objective, fair, and impartial review of contested parking violations. (4) (A) The issuing agency’s governing body or chief executive officer shall appoint or contract with qualified examiners or administrative hearing providers that employ qualified examiners to conduct the administrative hearings. Examiners shall demonstrate those qualifications, training, and objectivity necessary to conduct a fair and impartial review. An examiner shall not be employed, managed, or controlled by a person whose primary duties are parking enforcement or parking citation, processing, collection, or issuance. The examiner shall be separate and independent from the citation, collection, or processing function. An examiner’s continued employment, performance evaluation, compensation, and benefits shall not, directly or indirectly, be linked to the amount of fines collected by the examiner. (B) (i) Examiners shall have a minimum of 20 hours of training. The examiner is responsible for the costs of the training. The issuing agency may reimburse the examiner for those costs. (ii) Training may be provided through any of the following: (I) An accredited college or university. (II) A program conducted by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. (III) American Arbitration Association or a similar established organization. (IV) Through a program approved by the governing board of the issuing agency, including a program developed and provided by, or for, the issuing agency. (iii) Training programs may include topics relevant to the administrative hearing, including, but not limited to, applicable laws and regulations, parking enforcement procedures, due process, evaluation of evidence, hearing procedures, and effective oral and written communication. (iv) Upon the approval of the governing board of the issuing agency, up to 12 hours of relevant experience may be substituted for up to 12 hours of training. In addition, up to eight hours of the training requirements described in clause (i) may be credited to an individual, at the discretion of the governing board of the issuing agency, based upon training programs or courses described in clause (ii) that the individual attended within the last five years. (5) The officer or person who issues a notice of parking violation shall not be required to participate in an administrative hearing. The issuing agency shall not be required to produce any evidence other than the notice of parking violation or copy of the notice and information received from the Department of Motor Vehicles identifying the registered owner of the vehicle. The documentation in proper form shall be prima facie evidence of the violation. (6) The examiner’s decision following the administrative hearing may be personally delivered to the person by the examiner or sent by first-class mail, and, if the notice is not cancelled, include a written reason for that denial. (7) The examiner or the issuing agency may, at any time, and consistent with the written guidelines established by the issuing agency, allow payment of the parking penalty in installments, or the issuing agency may allow for deferred payment or allow for a reduction or waiver of the parking penalty if the person provides evidence satisfactory to the examiner or the issuing agency, as the case may be, of either an inability to pay the parking penalty in full, or any other extenuating circumstances relevant to payment of the parking penalty, including, but not limited to, documented homelessness status and financial hardship. If authorized by the governing board of the issuing agency, the examiner may permit the performance of community service in lieu of payment of a parking penalty. (d) The provisions of this section relating to the administrative appeal process do not apply to an issuing agency that is a law enforcement agency if the issuing agency does not also act as the processing agency.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 40220. Section 40220.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in Sections 40220.5, 40221, and 40222, the processing agency may proceed under one of the following options in order to collect an unpaid parking penalty and related service fees: (1) (A) File an itemization of unpaid parking penalties and related service fees with the department for collection with the registration of the vehicle pursuant to Section 4760. For unpaid parking penalties issued on and after July 1, 2018, and related service fees, the processing agency shall not file an itemization with the department unless all of the following conditions have been satisfied: (i) The processing agency provides a payment plan option for indigent persons that, at a minimum, does all of the following: (I) Allows payment of unpaid parking penalties and related service fees in monthly installments of no more than twenty-five dollars ($25) for total amounts due that are five hundred dollars ($500) or less. The amount of late fees and penalty assessments waived pursuant to subclause (II) shall not be counted in calculating that total amount of five hundred dollars ($500) or less. Unpaid parking penalties and fees shall be paid off within 24 months. There shall be no prepayment penalty for paying off the balance prior to the payment period expiring. (II) Waives all late fees and penalty assessments, exclusive of any state surcharges described in Sections 70372, 76000, and 76000.3 of the Government Code, if an indigent person enrolls in the payment plan. Waived late fees and penalty assessments may be reinstated if the person falls out of compliance with the payment plan. (III) Limits the processing fee to participate in a payment plan to five dollars ($5) or less for indigent persons. The processing fee for an indigent person may be added to the payment plan amount, at the discretion of the indigent person. If a processing agency offers a payment plan option to persons who are not indigent, limits the processing fee to participate in the payment plan to twenty-five dollars ($25) or less. (IV) Allows a person to file a request to participate in a payment plan at any time. (ii) The processing agency includes the information described in subclauses (I) and (II) in the notice of parking violation, and includes both in the notice of parking violation and on its public internet website, a web page link and telephone number to more information on the payment program. Each processing agency shall ensure that the linked internet web page is readily accessible in a prominent location on the parking citation payment section of the agency’s internet website and includes all of the following information: (I) The availability of an installment payment plan and the timeframe in which to apply. (II) The person’s right to request an indigency determination and the timeframe in which the person must apply. (III) Clear language about how the person can request an indigency determination and what that determination will entail. (IV) Documents needed by the processing agency to make an indigency determination. (iii) The person fails to enroll in the payment plan within the time specified in the notice or is not eligible for the payment plan because the person is not indigent. (B) The processing agency shall allow a person who falls out of compliance with the payment plan a one-time extension of 45 calendar days from the date the payment plan becomes delinquent to resume payments before the processing agency files an itemization of unpaid parking penalties and related service fees with the department pursuant to subparagraph (A). (C) The processing agency shall rescind the filing of an itemization of unpaid parking penalties and related service fees with the department for an indigent person, for one time only, if the registered owner or lessee enrolls in a payment plan and pays a late fee of no more than five dollars ($5). (D) (i) Each California State University and community college district governing board shall adopt a parking citation payment plan for persons with multiple unpaid parking citations. A parking citation payment policy adopted under this subparagraph shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following requirements: (I) Late fees shall be placed in abeyance while the payment plan is in place and the person adheres to its terms, and shall be waived once the payment plan is completed. (II) Once the payment plan is in place and the person adheres to its terms, an itemization of unpaid parking penalties and service fees as described in subparagraph (A) shall not be filed with the department. (III) Each California State University and community college district campus shall post the parking citation payment policy on its internet website for students’ awareness and access. (ii) A California State University or community college district governing board that fails to implement a parking citation payment plan pursuant to clause (i) shall implement the payment plan as provided in subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, and subdivision (c). (2) (A) If more than four hundred dollars ($400) in unpaid penalties and fees have been accrued by a person or registered owner, proof thereof may be filed with the court and shall have the same effect as a civil judgment. Execution may be levied and other measures may be taken for the collection of the judgment as are authorized for the collection of an unpaid civil judgment entered against a defendant in an action on a debtor. The court may assess costs against a judgment debtor to be paid upon satisfaction of the judgment. The processing agency shall send a notice by first-class mail to the person or registered owner indicating that a judgment shall be entered for the unpaid penalties, fees, and costs and that, after 21 calendar days from the date of the mailing of the notice, the judgment shall have the same effect as an entry of judgment against a judgment debtor. The person or registered owner shall also be notified at that time that execution may be levied against their assets, liens may be placed against their property, their wages may be garnished, and other steps may be taken to satisfy the judgment. If a judgment is rendered for the processing agency, the processing agency may contract with a collection agency to collect the amount of the judgment. (B) Notwithstanding any other law, the processing agency shall pay the established first paper civil filing fee at the time an entry of civil judgment is requested. (3) If the registration of the vehicle has not been renewed for 60 days beyond the renewal date, and the citation has not been collected by the department pursuant to Section 4760, file proof of unpaid penalties and fees with the court with the same effect as a civil judgment as provided in paragraph (2). (b) This section does not apply to a registered owner of a vehicle if the citation was issued prior to the registered owner taking possession of the vehicle, and the department has notified the processing agency pursuant to Section 4764. (c) (1) For purposes of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), a person is “indigent” if any of the following conditions is met: (A) The person meets the income criteria set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 68632 of the Government Code. (B) The person receives public benefits from a program listed in subdivision (a) of Section 68632 of the Government Code. (2) The person may demonstrate that the person is indigent by providing either of the following information, as applicable: (A) Proof of income from a pay stub or another form of proof of earnings, such as a bank statement, that shows that the person meets the income criteria set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 68632 of the Government Code, subject to review and approval by the processing agency or its designee. The processing agency or its designee shall not unreasonably withhold its approval. (B) Proof of receipt of benefits under the programs described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1), including, but not limited to, an electronic benefits transfer card or another card, subject to review and approval by the processing agency. The processing agency or its designee shall not unreasonably withhold its approval. (3) If a defendant’s indigent status is found to have been willfully fraudulent, the defendant’s penalties and fees reduction shall be overturned and the full amount of penalties and fees shall be restored.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 40220.5. Section 40220.5.

(a) (1) A processing agency may only use the process set forth in Section 4760 to collect unpaid parking penalties that were issued before July 1, 2018, and related service fees, if the processing agency provides indigent persons with the payment plan program described in this section. (2) A processing agency shall not be required to comply with this section to collect unpaid parking penalties that were issued before July 1, 2018, and related service fees, pursuant to the process set forth in Section 4760 for a person who does not file an application for an indigency determination, a person who falls out of compliance with a payment plan, except as set forth in subdivision (d), or a person who the processing agency has determined is not an indigent person. (b) A processing agency shall provide notice on its internet website of a person’s ability to request an indigency determination to qualify for a payment plan pursuant to this section. The notice shall include all of the following information: (1) The availability of a payment plan for indigent persons to pay parking penalties that were issued before July 1, 2018, and related service fees. (2) Clear language about how a person can request an indigency determination and what that determination will entail. (3) Documents needed by the processing agency to make an indigency determination. (c) A processing agency shall provide an indigent person an opportunity to pay unpaid parking penalties that were issued before July 1, 2018, and related service fees, pursuant to a payment plan that, at a minimum, does all of the following: (1) Allows payment of unpaid parking penalties that were issued before July 1, 2018, and related service fees, in monthly installments of no more than twenty-five dollars ($25) for total amounts due that are three hundred dollars ($300) or less. The amount of late fees and penalty assessments waived pursuant to paragraph (2) shall not be counted in calculating that total amount of three hundred dollars ($300) or less. Unpaid parking penalties and related service fees shall be paid off within 18 months. There shall be no prepayment penalty for paying off the balance prior to the payment period expiring. (2) Waives all late fees and penalty assessments, exclusive of any state surcharges described in Sections 70372, 76000, and 76000.3 of the Government Code. Waived late fees and penalty assessments may be reinstated if the indigent person falls out of compliance with the payment plan. (3) Limits the processing fee to participate in a payment plan to five dollars ($5) or less. The processing fee may be added to the payment plan amount, at the discretion of the indigent person. (d) A processing agency shall allow an indigent person who falls out of compliance with the payment plan a one-time extension of 45 calendar days from the date the payment plan became delinquent to resume payment. (e) A processing agency shall rescind the collection of unpaid parking penalties that were issued before July 1, 2018, and related service fees, with the department pursuant to the process set forth in Section 4760 for an indigent person, if the indigent person enrolls in a payment plan pursuant to this section. (f) “Indigent” shall have the same meaning as set forth in subdivision (c) of Section 40220. (g) This section shall remain in effect until January 1, 2027, and as of that date is repealed.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 40221. Section 40221.

The processing agency shall not file a civil judgment with the court relating to a parking violation which has been filed with the department unless the processing agency has determined that the registration of the vehicle has not been renewed for 60 days beyond the renewal date and the citation has not been collected by the department pursuant to Section 4760.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 40222. Section 40222.

The processing agency shall terminate proceedings on a notice of a delinquent parking violation or violations in all of the following cases: (a) Upon receipt of collected penalties and administrative fees remitted by the department under Section 4762 for that notice of delinquent parking violation or violations. The termination under this subdivision is by satisfaction of the parking penalty or penalties. (b) If the notice of a delinquent parking violation or violations was returned to the processing agency pursuant to Section 4764 and five years have elapsed since the date of the last violation. The termination under this subdivision is by the running of a statute of limitation of proceedings. (c) The processing agency receives information, that it shall verify with the department, that the penalty or penalties have been paid to the department pursuant to Section 4762. (d) (1) If the registered owner of the vehicle provides proof to the processing agency that he or she was not the registered owner on the date of the violation. (2) This subdivision does not limit or impair the ability or the right of the processing agency to pursue the collection of a delinquent parking violation or violations from the person who was the registered owner or lessee of the vehicle on the date of the violation.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 40224. Section 40224.

The time limitation provided by law for commencement of a civil action for a violation specified in Section 40200 shall be tolled from and after the date a notice of delinquent parking violation is filed with the department pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 40220 until the notice is returned to the processing agency under subdivision (b) of Section 4760 or Section 4762 or 4764 or is recalled by the processing agency pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 40211.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 40225. Section 40225.

(a) An equipment violation entered on the notice of parking violation attached to the vehicle under Section 40203 shall be processed in accordance with this article. All of the violations entered on the notice of parking violation shall be noticed in the notice of delinquent parking violation delivered pursuant to Section 40206, together with the amount of civil penalty. (b) (1) Whether or not a vehicle is in violation of any regulation governing the standing or parking of a vehicle but is in violation of subdivision (a) of Section 5204, a person authorized to enforce parking laws and regulations shall verify, using available Department of Motor Vehicle records, that no current registration exists for that vehicle. A citation shall not be issued for failure to comply with subdivision (a) of Section 5204 against any vehicle that has a current registration on file with the department. If the person authorized to enforce parking laws and regulations does not have immediate access to those records, a citation shall not be issued for failure to comply with subdivision (a) of Section 5204. A person authorized to enforce parking laws and regulations shall issue a written notice of parking violation for a vehicle that does not have a tab or a verified current registration, setting forth the alleged violation. The violation shall be processed pursuant to this section. (2) Commencing on July 1, 2024, a violation of paragraph (1) shall not be the basis for any enforcement action before the second month after the month of expiration of the vehicle’s registration. This paragraph shall become inoperative on January 1, 2030. (c) The civil penalty for each equipment violation, including failure to properly display a license plate, is the amount established for the violation in the Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedule, as adopted by the Judicial Council, except that upon proof of the correction to the processing agency, the penalty shall be reduced to ten dollars ($10). The reduction provided for in this subdivision involving failure to properly display license plates shall only apply if, at the time of the violation, valid license plates were issued for that vehicle in accordance with this code. The civil penalty for each violation of Section 5204 is the amount established for the violation in the Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedule, as adopted by the Judicial Council, except that upon proof of the correction to the processing agency, the penalty shall be reduced to ten dollars ($10). (d) Fifty percent of any penalty collected pursuant to this section for registration or equipment violations by a processing agency shall be paid to the county for remittance to the State Treasurer and the remaining 50 percent shall be retained by the issuing agency and processing agency subject to the terms of the contract described in Section 40200.5. (e) Subdivisions (a) and (b) do not preclude the recording of a violation of subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 4000 on a notice of parking violation or the adjudication of that violation under the civil process set forth in this article.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 40226. Section 40226.

An issuing agency may, in lieu of collecting a fine for a citation for failure to display a disabled placard, charge an administrative fee not to exceed twenty-five dollars ($25) to process cancellation of a citation in any case where the individual who received the citation can show proof that he or she had been issued a valid placard at the time the citation was received.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 40230. Section 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 superior 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. (b) The fee for filing the notice of appeal is as provided in Section 70615 of the Government Code. The court shall request that the processing agency’s file on the case be forwarded to the court, to be received within 15 calendar days of the request. The court shall notify the contestant of the appearance date by mail or personal delivery. The court shall retain the fee under Section 70615 of the Government Code regardless of the outcome of the appeal. If the court finds in favor of the contestant, the amount of the fee shall be reimbursed to the contestant by the processing agency. Any deposit of parking penalty shall be refunded by the processing agency in accordance with the judgment of the court. (c) The conduct of the appeal under this section is a subordinate judicial duty that may be performed by traffic trial commissioners and other subordinate judicial officials at the direction of the presiding judge of the court. (d) If no notice of appeal of the processing agency’s decision is filed within the period set forth in subdivision (a), the decision shall be deemed final. (e) If the parking penalty has not been deposited and the decision is against the contestant, the processing agency shall, after the decision becomes final, proceed to collect the penalty pursuant to Section 40220.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

Starting a business in California? California LLC guide: costs and requirements