• How do I contest my parking citation?
• How do I request an Administrative Hearing?
• How does the online Parking Citation System Work?
• How to file an appeal in Superior Court?
• Is the Parking Citation System secure?
• What does the Parking Citation System allow me to do?
• What if I don't have my citation number?
• What if I get a message the system is not available?
• What is 128-bit encryption?
• Where do I find the rules about parking in the city?
• Why does more than one citation show?  Do I have to pay them all?
• Why isn't my parking citation in the system?

How do I contest my parking citation?

This site does not allow for contesting a citation online.  If you received a parking citation issued by the Westminster Police Department and believe it was issued in error, you may request an Initial Administrative Review of the citation.  You must contest your citation within the first 21 calendar days following its issuance by requesting the review form in person or in writing.  Review forms are available at the Westminster Police Department front counter or can be downloaded.  Click on the form below.  A simple letter of explanation is also acceptable.  When contesting a parking citation, please remember to include your citation number, vehicle license number and all relevant information you believe supports your case, including copies of supporting documents, statements from witnesses, and any photographs (not returned).

Results of the Initial Review will be mailed within approximately 45 days.  If you are contesting a citation, there is no payment necessary until a final Notice of Decision has been made on your citation.  If you have any questions, please telephone the Citation Processing Center at 800-525-8553.

Citation Contest Form

How do I request an Administrative Hearing?
If you are dissatisfied with the results of the Initial Administrative Review you may request an Administrative Hearing of the violation no later than 21 calendar days following the mailing of the results of the Initial Review.  The request must be accompanied with a deposit in the amount of the parking penalty.  Checks/Money Orders should be made payable to the City of Westminster and include the citation number and the vehicle license number, no cash please.

If you are unable to deposit the parking penalty, you must provide written proof of your inability to pay the amount due.  You may request an “Application for Financial Evaluation” form by calling 800-525-8553.  It would be helpful to include 2 copies of the first two pages of the most recent year’s tax returns with your application.

Administrative Hearings can be conducted either in person or by mail.  You will be notified of your hearing date and time, should you choose to appear in person.  To schedule an Administrative Hearing, you must call the Processing Center at 800-525-8553.  If no Administrative Hearing is requested, the results of the Initial Review become final 21 calendar days following the mailing of the results of the Initial Review.  Failure to appear at your Administrative Hearing will result in fine forfeiture.

How does the online Parking Citation System Work?
Once you have selected the citation(s) to be paid by placing a check in the box next to the citation number, click on “Pay Ticket(s)” and you will be asked for your credit card information.  You will be asked to review the information to determine if it is correct, and then you will need to complete the credit card information.  Your credit card information will be validated, and the amount of the charge will be submitted.

If the credit card information is valid and sufficient approval is received for the amount you are paying, your credit card company will issue an approval to the site.  The payment will be immediately applied to the citation, and you will see the charge on your credit card statement.  You should print the on-line receipt for your records, or you can also receive an e-mail receipt if you enter an e-mail address.

How to file an appeal in Superior Court?
Within 30 calendar days after the mailing of the final decision of the Administrative Hearing, the contestant may seek review by filing an appeal with the West Justice Center at 8141 13th St, Westminster, California, per CVC 40230(a).  The West Justice Center will require a $25.00 filing fee for the appeal.

Is the Parking Citation System secure?
This site uses a 128-bit encryption, which is the highest level of encryption available.  This is the same security used on all web payment applications.  This site does not store any information about your credit card.  Once an approval or rejection is received, the information is purged from our system.

What does the Parking Citation System allow me to do?

The parking citation system allows you to perform web inquiries and to pay your parking citation online.  Your citation number can be located on the original ticket or on the Reminder Notice received in the mail.  The online parking citation system can also be accessed through www.pticket.com.  The system will assist you through the process.

What if I don't have my citation number?

For the security of your personal information, this site will only perform searches on the citation number.  If you don’t have your citation number you can call the Customer Service Center at 800-525-8553.

What if I get a message the system is not available?
If you should receive a message the system is unavailable for accepting payments it should be available within one or two hours, or you can call Customer Service at 800-525-8553.  Sometimes the site may not be available for processing.

What is 128-bit encryption?
There are basically two types of encryption: High and Standard.  The difference between these types of encryption is the strength of capability.  A High (128-bit) encryption is exponentially more powerful than a Standard (40 or 50-bit) encryption.

With 40-bit encryption, there are billions of possible keys to decipher the coded information, and only one of them works.  Someone intercepting the information would have to find the right key, a nearly impossible task.

With 128-bit encryption, there are 300 billion trillion times as many keys as with 40-bit encryption.  It is virtually impossible for an unauthorized party to find the right key, even if they are equipped with the best computers.  The City of Westminster system uses the highest level of encryption (128-bit) to ensure your online transmissions are secure.

Where do I find the rules about parking in the city?

The rules about parking in the City of Westminster may be found online at www.ci.westminster.ca.us under Municipal Codes.  Parking regulations may also be found in the California Vehicle Code at www.dmv.ca.gov.

Why does more than one citation show?  Do I have to pay them all?
If other citation exist on the same vehicle (same license plate, same owner) as the primary citation, they will be displayed as a courtesy.  You may elect to pay any or all of the parking citations by clicking the box next to each citation you want to pay.

Why isn't my parking citation in the system?
If your citation was just issued, it is possible it has not been entered into the database yet.  Usually tickets issued by Parking Enforcement Officers are entered into the database within 24 hours.  These citations are computer generated.  Handwritten parking citations are also written by Parking Enforcement Officers and Police Officers.  The citation issued is the payment envelope. These citations can take up to one week to be entered into the database.  If your citation is not in the system, call Customer Service at 800-525-8553.