The Traffic Services Division of the Sheriff’s Office is responsible for Administrative Reviews of all County Parking Violation Notices.

Parking Citations

If you need additional information about responding to your parking citation, please determine first if it is a County of San Diego parking citation. County parking citation look like the one to the right.

If your parking citation was issued by the City of San Diego, please contact San Diego Parking Management.

If you are looking to dispute a citation please reference the below section titled "Ticket Review."

Violations

To find out what a violation means, please see the resources below.

• List of County parking violations
• Look up California Vehicle Code sections
• Look up County Regulatory Codes

Copy of a County Parking Citation

If you need a copy of a county parking citation and you know from which station your citation was issued, please contact the station at the following numbers. If you are not certain, contact the Traffic Services Office at 858-974-2099.

• 4S Ranch: 858-521-5200
• Alpine: 619-659-2600
• Campo / Tecate: 619-478-5378
• Encinitas: 760-966-3500
• Fallbrook: 760-451-3100
• Imperial Beach: 619-498-2400
• Julian: 760-765-4718
• Lemon Grove: 619-337-2000
• Pine Valley: 619-473-8774
• Poway: 858-513-2800
• Ramona: 760-789-9157
• Ranchita / Warner Springs: 760-782-3353
• Rancho San Diego: 619-660-7090
• San Marcos: 760-510-5200
• Santee: 619-956-4000
• Valley Center / Pauma: 760-751-4400
• Vista: 760-940-4551

Pay a Ticket

There are multiple ways to pay your ticket:

• You may pay by mail using the envelope provided with the ticket.

San Diego Parking Administration
Parking Enforcement Center
P.O. Box 6010
Inglewood, CA 90312

• Pay by phone - call 1-866-449-7567
• Pay Online
• AB1299 and CVC 40220 allows for installment payments to qualifying low income individuals. The total amount in fines and fees that can be paid in installments is $500, Monthly installments can be no more than twenty-five dollars ($25), the time limit for paying fines and fees under a payment plan is 24 months, all late fees and penalty assessments are waived, and processing fees to participate in a payment plan are limited to five dollars ($5).
  
  The following files will provide additional information on payment plans:
• Low Income Payment Plans
• San Diego County Sheriff low income plan application

The provided application will need to be mailed to:

San Diego County Sheriff
P.O. Box 6010
Inglewood, CA 90312

• For more information, including how to apply and determine whether you qualify, please call 1-866-449-7567 and select the option to speak with an operator.

Ticket Review

Following is the procedure for contesting a notice of parking violation. The form can be found in this section and must be submitted with a copy of the citation, and any other proof.

Procedure for Contesting a Notice of Parking Violation

Rather than appearing in court on a contested parking citation, minor parking violations are no longer criminal infractions. They have been reduced to civil offenses. Accordingly, the criminal courts no longer will hear parking matters. If you wish to challenge your parking citation, you may do so according to the civil administrative process outlined below. If you have a question about the citation, please contact the office where the citation was issued (i.e., Sheriff’s Station, CHP, General Services, etc.). You may also contact the Parking Enforcement Center at 866-449-7567 (When asked "what city", please reply "County of San Diego Sheriff's") or call the Sheriff’s Traffic Services Division at 858-974-2099.

It is important to request the review of the citation right away (within 21 days of issuance or of receiving a notice of delinquent citation). Failure to do so will result in increases to your parking penalty as well as having your vehicle registration withheld by the Department of Motor Vehicles until the full amount of your citation, including late penalties, is paid.

Procedure for Requesting a Reduction of Parking Violation Fee

Under AB 1299, the Sheriff’s Office is authorized to reduce parking citation fines for individuals who demonstrate financial hardship. To request a reduction, you must complete the Administrative Review Form (found under the “Step 1” drop-down menu on our Parking Enforcement webpage) and include documentation showing either indigent status as defined under California Government Code §68632—such as proof of public benefits or income below the qualifying threshold—or documented proof of extenuating circumstances that prevent payment, such as medical hardship or unemployment verification. Submit the completed form with supporting documents by mail, and the Sheriff’s Office will review and notify you of the determination.

Frequently Asked Questions - Parking Citations

The requirements for disabled parking zones as specified in the Vehicle Code are very stringent. The placard must be displayed on the rear view mirror. There are no exceptions for parking in a disabled zone without a valid placard. Parking in crosshatched areas adjacent to disabled zones is strictly prohibited even if you have a placard.

I had a sign advertising my car for sale and received a citation. Why?

San Diego County Code 72.123 prohibits signs larger than 8 ½” x 11”. Signs must be placed only in side windows and not in the front or back. If your vehicle is parked on private property, you must have written consent from the owner of the property to leave your vehicle parked for sale.

No one told me I could not park my car out on the street for long periods.

San Diego County Code 72.122 prohibits parking a vehicle in excess of 72 hours on the street. The purpose behind this section is to insure public streets do not become storage lots for vehicles. Your car must be moved every 72 hours.

I am a County employee and I received a parking citation while parked in two-hour public parking at the County Administrative Center.

There is limited public parking at the County Administration Center (CAC). To insure persons with business at the CAC have available parking, the maximum parking time is restricted to two hours. If you are a County employee with a valid parking sticker, you are required to park in employee parking.

I did not realize I parked in a bus zone. The curb was not red.

Vehicle Code Section 22500(i) specifies a bus zone is identified by a red curb or a posted sign.

I am trying to get my car registered, but in the meantime, I received a citation for not having current tabs. What can I do to keep from getting more citations?

After explaining your situation, you can ask the office of Motor Vehicles to issue you a Temporary Operating Permit. (See Proof of Correction)

I received parking citations which states proof of correction is required. What does that mean?

You must have your parking citation signed on the reverse side indicating the violation was corrected. Any police officer, deputy sheriff or California Highway Patrol officer can sign it. In Sheriff’s jurisdiction, you can go to any of the Sheriff’s Stations, substations or offices. In compliance with Government Code Section 26746.1, there is a $20 fee for this service. Once a signature has been obtained reflecting proof of correction was made, the penalty shall be reduced to ten dollars ($10).

The citation along with a check for ten dollars should be mailed to:

San Diego County Sheriff’s office-Traffic Division
P.O. Box 939062
San Diego, CA 92193-9062