Your Right to Appeal

Parking Violations are not considered a criminal offense and may not be contested through Superior Court without first completing the administrative procedures outlined below. The procedures are established by Section 40215 of the California Vehicle Code.

There are three levels at which a citation may be reviewed:

  1. Administrative Review
  2. Administrative Hearing
  3. Small Claims in the Superior Court

 

If you are not satisfied with the results at one level, you may proceed to the next level. Each level must be completed before proceeding to the next. To preserve your right to appeal a citation, you must submit your appeal at each level within the timeframe given.

 

Administrative Review (Level-1 Appeal) Instructions

If you believe your citation was issued in error or that there are valid reasons it should be dismissed, you may request an Administrative Review, also known as a Level-1 Appeal. This request must be submitted within 21 days of the citation’s issue date. Once that deadline passes, the opportunity to appeal is forfeited, and the full citation amount becomes due.

To begin the review process, you may [click here] to submit your appeal online. If you prefer a handwritten appeal form, you can request one by calling the Adjudication Office at (805) 893-3680. Please note that once your appeal is submitted, it cannot be edited or amended. Appeals are not accepted over the phone, via email or in person at the Transportation & Parking Services Office.

As part of your appeal, you will be asked to provide a written explanation of why you believe the citation should be dismissed. This is your opportunity to clearly state your case and include any supporting documentation, such as photos, permits, receipts, or other relevant materials, that may help clarify your situation.

An Administrative Review Adjudicator will carefully evaluate the details you’ve provided and issue a decision. You can expect to receive a response by mail or email within approximately 10 business days.

If your appeal is denied, you will have two options: you may proceed to a Level-2 Administrative Hearing, or you may choose to pay the citation. Either action must be taken within 21 days of the date listed on your Administrative Review result notice.

Level-2 Appeal (Administrative Hearing) Instructions

If you have received the results of your Level-1 appeal and would like to move forward with a Level-2 Administrative Hearing, you must begin by paying the full citation amount. This payment must be submitted within 21 days of the appeal result notification. You can complete your payment online by clicking [here].

Immediately after submitting your payment, you are required to send an email to tps-citations@ucsb.edu stating that you would like to request an Administrative Hearing via Zoom. In your email, be sure to include your citation number and vehicle license plate number. Your email must be sent on the same day the payment is made, no later than 11:59 PM. Requests submitted late or without a corresponding email will not be accepted and the citation will be considered paid and closed.

All Administrative Hearings are held via Zoom and take place on the second Thursday of each month. You will be assigned a hearing date and time; individual time selection is not available. Once your request is processed, a confirmation will be sent by both email and USPS mail, including all hearing details and Zoom login credentials.

Hearings are conducted by a certified California Hearing Examiner who is not affiliated with UCSB. The Hearing Examiner does not provide a decision at the time of your hearing. Instead, the ruling is submitted to the UCSB Adjudications Office and then shared with you in the form of a Notice of Disposition, which will be sent to you by both email and mail. This process applies to both live Zoom hearings and written appeals.

If you are unable to attend your scheduled hearing, you may request to reschedule once, for the following month’s hearing, or opt to submit your appeal in writing instead. All changes or cancellations must be communicated to the Adjudications Office at least 24 hours before your scheduled time. If prior notice is not provided, you will be marked as a Failure to Appear, and your payment will be forfeited.

If your appeal is successful, your citation payment will be refunded to your original method of payment within two business weeks.

For those preferring to pay by check, please contact our office in advance to request the Administrative Hearing form. This form must accompany your payment and must be postmarked within 21 days of the Level-1 appeal result date to be accepted.

If you are not satisfied with the outcome of your Level-2 Administrative Hearing, you may pursue a third and final appeal through the Small Claims Department at the Santa Barbara County Superior Court.

 

 

Timeliness. If you decide to file an appeal with the Santa Barbara Superior Court, you must do so within 30 days of the mailing or emailing date of the second level Notice of Disposition.

Filing. Please call (805) 893-3680 to request a copy of the Level 3 Superior Court Hearing Process  

Payment. The Superior Court requires a $25.00 court filing fee.  This amount is refunded by Parking Services along with the citation amount that had already paid if the hearing be found in your favor.