Is contesting a parking ticket worth it? Will I be succesful?

No it does not go on your record. You will spend plenty of time fighting it. So “if” you win the time you spent you will loose out by not making money at work. More than likely you will loose in court which will add salt to your wound.

With a quick call to city hall, you usually can get it knocked down a little. At least, I have in my experience.

I wrote a letter once to contest a ticket and I got away with it. I would at least try that, especially if you have any sort of proof you can include. I’ve been told that getting off with one, or a ‘first, parking ticket is a good possibility. I guess that might depend on the city, though.

I did contested a parking ticket in Los Angeles once when there was a fair and I was participating in the fair. I temporary parked my car in the middle of the street to download some stuff, went back to my car 10 minutes later. I got a parking ticket. I then decided to get a letter from the person who organized the event to say my situation was unique that I wasn’t blocking traffic because the street was closed anyways. I laminated that letter and put it in a special envelop then took it to night court. The judge was impressed with my homework, so he let me go and I save $186.

I did. Showed up for court, and the officer did not. It was dismissed.

In most jurisdictions, the police officer who writes a misdemeanor ticket must be in court for the ticket to be prosecuted. Most officers are so overworked that they often miss court dates for traffic tickets. If your ticket comes up on a day when the officer is a no show, it will be dismissed. There are lawyers who, for a fee ;-) , will game the system so that your ticket comes up on the day the officer is away. Not making a recommendation, just giving the facts. That is what is meant in the Google ads to the right, when they say “defended”.

I have successfully contested a parking ticket in SF. I was ticketed for parking on a street cleaning day. The sign that listed which day was the designated street cleaning day had been completely defaced by graffiti and was unreadable. I mentioned such in my protest and the ticket was dismissed after 2 months of waiting. The bottom line is that if there is a good reason for you contesting the ticket, you’ll probably be successful.

I have contested parking tickets both in writing & in person. I got both dismissed because I had a good enough excuse. However, the one I contested via mail was so much easier, I wasted half a day to contest the other in person. At the end of the day I don’t think the $45 saved was worth it.