Tel: (760) 633-2685; Fax: (760) 633-2818
PROCEDURE FOR APPEALING A PARKING CITATION
Minor parking citations are considered civil offenses and are not criminal infractions.
Accordingly, the criminal courts do not hear parking matters. If you wish to contest a
parking citation or a notice of delinquent parking citation, you may do so by following the
civil administrative process outlined below.
STEP 1- Initial Review
The first step is an Initial Review by the City of Encinitas. The purpose of this
investigation is to screen out those citations where the appellant is clearly not liable for
the citation. Complete and return the “Initial Review Request” form on the reverse side
of this page within 21 days of citation issuance. Please attach a copy of your parking
citation or notice of delinquent parking citation; your request for an investigation cannot
be processed without it. You will be notified of the results of the investigation by mail. If
the citation or notice of delinquent parking citation is dismissed, you may consider the
matter resolved. If the citation is upheld, you may either pay the parking penalties or
move on to Step 2 below.
STEP 2- Administrative Hearing
If you are not satisfied with the results of the Initial Review, you may request an
Administrative Hearing with a neutral hearing examiner. You will be mailed the
application for this process if your Initial Review is upheld. To request an Administrative
Hearing, you must deposit the citation penalty and submit your request form to the City
within 21 days of the date of your Initial Review. You may choose to have the hearing
conducted in person or by mail. In either event, you will be notified of the findings. If
you are found not liable, the penalty amount will be refunded to you. If the citation is
upheld, you either forfeit the penalty as citation payment or move on to the final Step 3
below.
STEP 3- Superior Court Hearing
The final step in the process is an appeal to the civil division of the San Diego Superior
Court, North County Division within 30 days of the administrative hearing disposition
letter. You, as the appellant, are responsible for paying the $25.00 filing fee for the
appeal hearing. If you prevail, the $25.00 filing fee will be refunded to you along with
your citation penalty payment. If the violation is upheld, you forfeit the filing fee and all
previously posted funds.
If you have any questions, please contact the City of Encinitas,
Code Enforcement Division at (760) 633-2685.