Pay Parking Citation

Need to pay a parking citation? Let us help. Follow the instructions below

 

Online

Step 1.Rules & Requirements

  • Payment MUST be received within 21 days of the issuance of citation / ticket. 
  • A $2.00 convenience fee will be applied upon processing your payment.  
  • Please complete each section thoroughly when filling out your information.

Step 2.Before You Pay

Gather your supporting documents:

  1. Vehicle License Plate
  2. Valid Credit Card for Payment
  3. Citation Number

Note:

  • A citation: the number DOES NOT begin with an 'R'.
  • A ticket: the number begins with an 'R'. 

Step 3.Pay Citation or Ticket

  • If your citation number DOES NOT begin with an 'R',

 Pay Citation Now

  • If your citation number begin with an R,

 Pay Ticket Now

Step 4.Save Your Confirmation Number

You will receive a confirmation number once your payment is successfully processed, the citation payment is reflected immediately after the credit card charge is approved. Use the provided confirmation number as a reference should any issues arise after submitting your payment. 

Mail

Step 1.Understanding the Rules and Process

  • Payment must be received within 21 days from the mailing of the "Notice of Delinquent Parking Violation" 

Step 2.Gathering Information for Payment 

  • Citation Number
  • Vehicle License Plate
  • Valid Check or Money Order

Step 3.Mailing Check or Money Order

  • Write down your citation number and license plate number on your check or money order.
  • Make checks payable to the 'City of Palo Alto" and mail in the envelope provided. 

NOTE: DO NOT MAIL CASH 

Step 4.Receipt of Payment

To get a receipt of your payment, or to check the status of your ticket / citation, contact Revenue Collections:

In-Person

Payments can be made in person Monday – Thursday  between the hours of 10:00am and 4:00pm .

 

To Contest a Parking Citation

To contest any parking citation (whether the citation number begins with an ‘R’ or not), the process begins with Revenue Collections. 

Revenue Collections
Address: 250 Hamilton Ave – 1st floor, City Hall, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Email: RevColl@CityofPaloAlto.org 
Phone: 650-329-2317 or 650-329-2252

The first step to contesting your citation is to request an Initial Review. The request must be received within the time stated on the citation (21 days). Please provide a statement, a copy of the citation, and any relevant documentation. No payment is required for the Initial Review. 

If you are not satisfied with the results of the Initial Review you may schedule a hearing with the Parking Examiner. Please refer to the instructions on the back of the Initial Review form. Payment “in full” is required to schedule a hearing unless, a “hardship” is declared and proof is provided. 

Payment Plans for Parking Citations

The City of Palo Alto offers a payment plan for customers who are determined to be indigent under specified criteria. A person may apply for a determination of indigence and to pay a citation in installments within 60 days of the citation’s issuance or within 10 days after the hearing determination (whichever is later).

Payment Plan Details
The payment plan allows a maximum monthly payment amount of $25.00 if the amounts due total $300.00 or less. The maximum timeline for full payment under a plan is 18 months. There is a $5.00 processing fee which will be included in the payment plan amount.

Determination of Indigence
Per Government Code 68632 (a), a person may be determined indigent if they provide documentation they are receiving public benefits under one or more of the following programs:

  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and State Supplementary Payments (SSP). Documentation required is two of your most recent benefit check stubs or statement and certification from the county’s Social Services office.
  • California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids Act (CalWORKs). Your Golden State Advantage Card (EBT) is required as documentation.
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Your Golden State Advantage Card (EBT) is required as documentation.
  • County Relief, General Relief (GR), or General Assistance (GA). Verification from the County Service Office is required for documentation.
  • Cash Assistance Program for Aged, Blind, and Disabled Legal Immigrants (CAPI). Verification from the County Service Office is required for documentation.
  • In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) (Article 7 commencing with Section 12300) of Chapter 3 of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code). Your Medi-Cal card will be required for verification.
  • Medi-Cal Documentation

Alternatively, per Government Code 68632 (b), a person may be determined indigent if their monthly income is 125 percent or less of the current poverty guidelines updated by the US Department of Health and Human Services. Documentation required can be income tax forms, two recent paystubs or bank statement verifying income.

For assistance, please contact: 
Revenue Collections
Address: 250 Hamilton Ave – 1st floor, City Hall, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Email: RevColl@CityofPaloAlto.org 
Phone: 650-329-2317 or 650-329-2252

User Agreement - Terms of Use

Please read everything below carefully before continuing with the online payment process.

THE CITY OF PALO ALTO REQUIRES THAT YOU READ, UNDERSTAND, AND AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE USE OF THIS WEBSITE BEFORE YOU MAY USE IT.

1. By using this website, you agree to pay the amount due toward each ticket you select, plus a convenience fee if applicable. This website handles payments only for citations issued by the City of Palo Alto. If you have questions regarding your citation, you may call customer service at 650-329-2252 or visit our Revenue Collections desk on the first floor of Civic Center, located at 250 Hamilton Avenue in Palo Alto.

2. You understand and agree that the use of this website to handle a parking citation payment does not alter or extend any statutory deadlines. Thus, your failure to make any payment on time or other failure to meet any deadline will not be excused even if related to malfunctions of this website. Applicable penalties or fees will accrue as a result of failure to pay on time.

3. Payment will be applied to the selected citation(s) at the time of the transaction.

4. In consideration of your use of this website, you agree to provide true, accurate, and current information. If you provide any information that is untrue, inaccurate, or not current, or if the City of Palo Alto has reasonable grounds to believe or suspect that such information is untrue, inaccurate, or not current, the City of Palo Alto has the right to terminate your use of any services on this website.

5. You understand and agree that the City of Palo Alto reserves the right at any time and from time to time to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, any services provided on this website and any conditions of use with or without notice.

6. You understand and agree that the City of Palo Alto may, under certain circumstances and without prior notice, immediately terminate your access to this website. Cause for immediate termination will include, but not be limited to, (a) breaches or violations of this User Agreement or other incorporated agreements or guidelines, (b) requests by law enforcement or other government agencies, (c) discontinuance of services or content modifications to this website, (d) technical problems or errors, and (e) extended periods of inactivity.

7. The City of Palo Alto makes no guarantees, promises, or warranties regarding the accuracy of information and data provided by a section in this website. You agree and understand that the information and data on this website are being provided "as-is" without warranty of any kind and that the information and data may be subject to errors and omissions. To the extent permitted by law, the City of Palo Alto disclaims all warranties, including, without limitation, any implied warranties of merchantability, accuracy and fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement. The user acknowledges and agrees that neither the City of Palo Alto nor any other governmental agency, entity or body nor any vendor or service relating in any way to our online efforts is or will be liable in any way whatsoever for the accuracy or validity of the information provided. There is no guarantee that this online payment application will show all of your unpaid tickets. Use of this service to submit payment constitutes acknowledgement that the City of Palo Alto and the processor of electronic payments assume no responsibility for data entered by services users. I hereby understand that payment is an admission of liability and I may not be afforded an opportunity to an administrative hearing.

8. In no event will the City of Palo Alto, or any other governmental agency, entity or body or any vendor or service provider associated with any of our online efforts be liable for damages of any nature based on any theory of liability, including, but not limited to, contract, negligence or other torts (including intentional torts), which may include, but is not limited to, damages for loss of property, loss of profits, lost, compromised or impaired claims, lost savings, lost fees, or any other damages whatsoever, arising out of or relating to in any way to the use of this website. Accordingly, you acknowledge and understand that you use this website at your own risk and that your agreement to this Section 8 is a material inducement to the City of Palo Alto's decision to make this website available for your use.

9. The online citation payment web site is committed to protecting your privacy. Security measures for this site have been taken to protect against loss, misuse or alteration of the information you provide; and industry standard encryption methods are used to assure security. This online payment site does not store any information related to your payment transaction such as name, account number, address or e-mail address and information could never be sold or rented to third parties. Nevertheless, it is crucial that, as a user, you protect against unauthorized access to your password and to your computer and that you always sign off when you are finished with using a shared computer. Further, you should be aware that no system is impenetrable. Thus, it is your responsibility to diligently monitor your credit card statements, bank statements and similar personal information so as to discover and address as quickly as possible any misuse of your personal information.

10. Return Policy: In cases where the user believes a charge has appeared on his or her credit card statement by an act of fraud, the user should contact his or her credit card company and that card issuer will then contact the City of Palo Alto. Do not contact the City of Palo Alto directly in this instance. In cases where you believe a duplicated charge to you credit card has occurred, please contact the City of Palo Alto's customer service for parking citations at 650-329-2252.

By clicking on the "Pay Parking Citation Online" button above, you indicate your acceptance of the above terms and conditions.

 

 

 

Contact Us

Phone

(650) 329-2252

Alternate Phone

(650) 329-2317

Email

RevColl@CityofPaloAlto.org

Location

City Hall: Revenue Collections
250 Hamilton Ave
Palo Alto, CA
94301
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