Fight a broken-meter parking ticket in Denver
You were cited for a meter violation under D.R.M.C. § 54-514(a) (failure to deposit the required payment), but the specific parking meter or pay station you used was inoperable, malfunctioning, or otherwise would not accept payment, so you could not comply despite trying.
the statement
Copy, customize, submit.
Statement I will present at my Final Hearing Denver County Court — Final Hearing on a Parking Citation Re: Citation No. [CITATION NUMBER] Plate: [PLATE] ([STATE]) Date/Time: [DATE], [TIME] Location cited: [LOCATION] I dispute this citation and ask the judicial officer to find it invalid. On [DATE] at approximately [TIME], I attempted to pay for parking at [LOCATION] using the meter or pay station serving that spot, but it was broken: [DESCRIBE — e.g., blank/error screen, jammed coin slot, non-functioning card reader, printed no receipt]. I made a good-faith effort to pay for parking through no fault of my own, and the meter itself prevented me from complying. Under D.R.M.C. § 54-514(a), it is unlawful to use a metered space without depositing the required payment — but the City bears the burden of proving the validity of this citation at this Final Hearing. Because the meter I used was not functioning, the City cannot show I failed to comply with a requirement I was actually able to meet. I ask that this citation be found invalid on that basis. Attached: [time-stamped photo(s) of the malfunctioning meter, any 311 report of the malfunction, a record of any failed payment attempt, and a photo of the meter number/location matching the citation]. 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.
- 1Note your citation's issue date and case/summons number, and figure out which window you're in: 0–20 calendar days old (eligible for a Final Hearing), 21–120 days old (Final Hearing no longer available, but you can file a general motion with Denver County Court), or over 120 days old (a default judgment has already been entered against you).
- 2If your citation is 20 calendar days old or less, go in person to Denver County Court, 1437 Bannock St., Room 140, Denver, CO 80202 (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.) to schedule a Final Hearing. There is currently no online or mail option to request the hearing — you must appear in person to schedule it.
- 3Gather your evidence before the hearing date: photos, receipts, repair/maintenance records, registration or sale documents, or anything else supporting your specific defense, since Denver's Final Hearing does not accept new evidence submitted only by mail or online in place of your appearance.
- 4Attend the scheduled Final Hearing before a Denver County Court judicial officer. The City has the burden to prove the validity of the citation, and you may present your defense and evidence at that time.
- 5If the judicial officer finds the citation valid, or if you fail to appear, a judgment enters against you for the fine amount plus $26.00 in court costs, and that amount is generally due immediately following the hearing.
- 6If your citation is between 21 and 120 days old, you're no longer eligible for a Final Hearing, but you may file a general motion with Denver County Court asking for judicial review of the citation.
- 7If your citation is over 120 days old, a default judgment has already been entered against you for the fine plus any late fees; you may file a motion with Denver County Court asking the judge to set aside that default judgment, explaining your good reason for not paying or disputing within the 120-day window.
- 8Call the Parking Violations Bureau at 1-866-280-9988 (regular business hours) with questions about a specific citation before your hearing date.
bring receipts
Attach this evidence.
- ✓Time- and date-stamped photos of the malfunctioning meter or pay station (blank/error screen, jammed slot, non-functioning card reader, etc.)
- ✓A 311 report of the broken meter, if you filed one (Denver's 311 line takes meter-malfunction reports 24/7)
- ✓Any record of a failed payment attempt (e.g., a declined-transaction notification from a payment app)
- ✓Photos showing the meter number/location matching the citation
what Denver rules say
The rule this rests on.
D.R.M.C. § 54-514(a) — Meter violation (deposit of required payment)
Denver does not publish a separate, itemized list of statutory defenses the way some other cities do (e.g., NYC or DC). Instead, every disputed citation goes to a single Final Hearing where, per Denver County Court, 'the city will be required to prove the validity of the citation' and 'you may present your defense.' A malfunctioning meter is a factual defense to whether the elements of § 54-514(a) — failing to deposit the required payment — were actually met; it is evaluated case-by-case by the judicial officer rather than automatically dismissed, so document the malfunction as thoroughly as possible.
if this doesn’t work
Your next move.
If the judicial officer finds the citation valid, or if you fail to appear, a judgment enters against you for the fine amount plus $26.00 in court costs, generally due immediately. If your citation is between 21 and 120 days old, you're no longer eligible for a Final Hearing, but you may file a general motion with Denver County Court asking for judicial review of the citation. If your citation is over 120 days old, a default judgment has already been entered against you for the fine plus any late fees; you may file a motion with Denver County Court asking the judge to set aside that default judgment for good cause.
questions people ask
FAQ.
Can I dispute this by mail or online instead of going to the hearing?
No. Denver's prior online dispute system has been discontinued and there is currently no mail-in option for disputing a citation. You must appear in person at Denver County Court, 1437 Bannock St., Room 140, to schedule a Final Hearing, and the hearing itself is where you present this statement and your evidence.
Do I have to prove the meter was broken, or does the City have to prove I didn't pay?
The City bears the burden of proving the validity of the citation at the Final Hearing. Your evidence of a malfunctioning meter undercuts the City's ability to show you failed to deposit required payment, but the more documentation you bring (photos, a 311 report, a failed-payment record), the stronger your position.
How much time do I have to schedule this hearing?
You must be able to schedule a Final Hearing within 20 calendar days of the citation's issue date. After that, a Final Hearing is no longer available, though you can still file a general motion with Denver County Court through day 120.
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