Home     Parking Citation Adjudication Program  
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    Patrol   In 1992, the California legislature adopted Assembly Bill 408 (codified as Vehicle Code Sections 40200 et seq).  Essentially, the legislation decriminalized parking citations, removed the adjudication process from the court system, and established a process by which local governments process and adjudicate parking citations.

The City of Signal Hill has established a three tiered program by which you may contest a parking citation.

  
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    Links & Resources   The Administrative Review is the first step in contesting a parking citation.  You may request an Administrative Review of your parking citation within 21 days of the issuance of the parking citation or within 14 days of the mailing of a delinquent penalty notice.  You may pick up an Administrative Review Form at the Signal Hill Police Department or request that a form be mailed to you by calling (562) 989-7200.

Return the completed Administrative Review form, a photocopy of the citation, a written explanation of the reasons the citation is being contested, and any other support documentation you want reviewed.  Your request will be considered by a Parking Adjudication Coordinator in the Police Department.  You may be contacted for additional information.

If a citation is eligible for cancellation through an Administrative Review because of proof of correction or proof that the violation was due to a technical omission which has been remedied, the citation will be canceled upon payment of a Fit-it Fee or an Administrative Fee.  The current Fit-it/Administrative Fee is $10.00.

The results of the review will be mailed to you.  If it can be determined that there are not grounds for cancellation for the citation, you may either pay the penalty required to conclude the matter or request an Administrative Hearing.

  
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      Administrative Hearing  
      The Administrative Hearing is the second step to contesting a parking citation.  An Administrative Hearing must be requested within 21 days of the mailing of the results of the Administrative Review.  You may pick up an Administrative Hearing Form at the Signal Hill Police Department or request that a form be mailed to you by calling (562) 989-7200.

The request for an Administrative Hearing must be accompanied by a deposit of the full amount due on the citation or verifiable and substantial proof of the inability to deposit the full amount of the citation.  You may request a mail-in or in-person hearing before a hearing examiner.  A date will be scheduled for the hearing, and you will be notified as to the exact date and time (normally the fourth Thursday of the month at 6:00 p.m.).

The hearing will be conducted by a hearing examiner, appointed by the City, who has a background and knowledge of the judicial system.  The hearing will be tape-recorded.  You may offer testimony, under oath, as to the reasons the parking citation is being contested and any other evidence which you believe to be relevant.  The officer who issued the citation is not required to be present at the hearing.  You will be notified by mail within 5 days of the hearing examiners decision in the case. 

If the hearing examiner cancels the parking citation, your deposited penalty fee will be returned to you.  If the hearing examiner upholds the parking citation, the deposited fee will be used to pay the penalty, and the case will be concluded.  If you wish to contest the case further, you may appeal the hearing examiner's decision in civil court.

  
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
      Civil Court Action  
      The civil court is the last step to contest a parking citation.  Within 30 days of the mailing of the hearing examiner's decision, you may file an appeal in the Superior Court or Justice Court.  For filing requirements, contact the Civil Division of the Long Beach Superior Court, second floor, 415 West Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, California 90802.  
       
       
       
       
         
      Questions  
      Any questions concerning the Parking Adjudication Program can be answered by contacting the Records Bureau at the Signal Hill Police Department, 1800 E. Hill St., Signal Hill, CA 90755, (562) 989-7200.