Fight a Baltimore parking ticket for a stolen vehicle
Your vehicle, or its registration plates, were stolen at the time the citation was issued, so you had no control over the vehicle when the parking violation occurred.
the statement
Copy, customize, submit.
To: Baltimore City Department of Finance, Bureau of Revenue Collections Re: Citation/Issue No. [CITATION NUMBER] Plate: [PLATE] ([STATE]) Date/Time: [DATE], [TIME] Location cited: [LOCATION] I am requesting an administrative abatement of this citation because my vehicle, or its registration plates, were stolen at the time the citation was issued, and I had no control over the vehicle when the alleged violation occurred. My vehicle (or plates) was reported stolen on [THEFT REPORT DATE], per police report number [POLICE REPORT NUMBER]. [IF VEHICLE RECOVERED: The vehicle was recovered on [RECOVERY DATE]; the citation date of [DATE] falls within the stolen window between the theft report and recovery.] [IF VEHICLE NEVER RECOVERED: The vehicle was never recovered, and I have attached my insurer's total-loss statement.] Under Baltimore City Code Art. 31, §36-24(a), the Director of Finance holds general fine-collection and abatement authority, and consistent with the Department of Finance's own published stolen-vehicle abatement process — under which the Bureau forwards qualifying citations to the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office for abatement when the violation date falls within the stolen window — I ask that this citation be abated on that basis. Attached: [full police report documenting the theft and its report date; total-loss statement from my insurer if the vehicle was never recovered, or documentation of the recovery date if it was]. Respectfully, [YOUR NAME] [ADDRESS] [PHONE] [EMAIL]
This template is for informational use only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Square-bracketed placeholders must be replaced with your specific facts. Rules and deadlines can change; if your situation is urgent, complicated, or high-stakes, email info@imfrustrated.org for a free conversation with a volunteer attorney before you send it.
how to submit it
A few things before you send.
- 1Confirm that the citation date falls within the window your vehicle (or plates) was reported stolen.
- 2Call the Bureau of Revenue Collections at 410-396-3000, or email baltimorecitycollections@baltimorecity.gov, and provide a full police report of the theft (plus an insurer's total-loss statement if the vehicle was never recovered, or recovery documentation if it was).
- 3The Bureau forwards qualifying citations to the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office for abatement; you'll be notified by mail once abated. No Parking Fine Trial Request or District Court trial is required for this path.
- 4In person alternative: Bureau of Revenue Collections, Abel Wolman Municipal Building, 200 N. Holliday Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, Monday–Friday 8:30am–4:30pm.
bring receipts
Attach this evidence.
- ✓A copy of the full police report documenting the theft, showing the date the vehicle (or plates) was reported stolen
- ✓If the vehicle was never recovered: a total-loss statement from your auto insurance company
- ✓If the vehicle was recovered: documentation of the recovery date, so the City can confirm the citation date falls within the stolen window
- ✓Your contact with the Bureau of Revenue Collections (410-396-3000 or baltimorecitycollections@baltimorecity.gov) submitting the above
what Baltimore rules say
The rule this rests on.
Baltimore City Code Art. 31, §36-24(a) — Powers of Director of Finance (general fine-collection and abatement authority under which the Bureau processes stolen-vehicle citations)
Baltimore's Department of Finance handles this as an administrative abatement, not a District Court trial: per the City's own FAQ, if the violation date falls between the reported-stolen and recovery dates, the Bureau submits the citation(s) to the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office for abatement and notifies the registered owner by mail once abated. There is no separately numbered 'stolen vehicle' code section — this abatement authority derives from the Director of Finance's general fine-collection and waiver powers under §36-24. Contact the Bureau directly for this scenario rather than filing a District Court trial petition.
if this doesn’t work
Your next move.
If the Bureau declines to administratively abate the citation, you have not lost your right to contest it — you can still request a trial (Parking Fine Trial Request online within 45 days of the citation date, or by mail to the District Court of Maryland after that) and raise the same facts before a judge. Baltimore City does not publish a separate city-run appeal step beyond that trial.
questions people ask
FAQ.
Do I need to request a trial for a stolen-vehicle citation?
No. Baltimore's Department of Finance handles this as an administrative abatement, not a District Court trial. If the violation date falls between your reported-stolen and recovery dates, the Bureau forwards the citation to the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office for abatement instead of requiring a trial petition.
What if my car was never recovered?
Attach a total-loss statement from your auto insurance company along with the full police report of the theft when you contact the Bureau of Revenue Collections.
Who do I contact to start this?
Call the Bureau of Revenue Collections at 410-396-3000, or email baltimorecitycollections@baltimorecity.gov, with your police report and any recovery or total-loss documentation.
Nervous about sending it yourself?
we’ll read it over with you.
Email the situation and a volunteer attorney will respond. No commitment, no invoice, no judgment — just an honest second pair of eyes from someone who actually understands the law.
info@imfrustrated.org