Fight a Los Angeles parking ticket for a sold, stolen, or transferred vehicle
You were not the responsible owner at the time of the violation: the vehicle was sold, gifted, donated, or leased/rented to someone else before the citation date; the vehicle or its license plate was stolen; or (for out-of-state plates) the vehicle is misidentified.
the statement
Copy, customize, submit.
To: City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) — Parking Violations Bureau Re: Citation No. [CITATION NUMBER] Plate: [PLATE] ([STATE]) Date/Time: [DATE], [TIME] Location cited: [LOCATION] I am requesting an Initial Review of this citation under California Vehicle Code §40215 and ask that it be canceled. I was not the responsible owner of this vehicle at the time this citation was issued on [DATE]. [SELECT AND COMPLETE THE APPLICABLE SCENARIO: (a) I sold, gifted, donated, or leased/rented the vehicle to another party on [TRANSFER DATE], before this citation was issued, as shown by the attached DMV Notice of Transfer & Release of Liability, dealer/leasing-company Bill of Sale or Trade-in Agreement, rental/lease agreement, or IRS-approved vehicle donation document. / (b) The vehicle was stolen, as documented in the attached police report. / (c) The license plate on this vehicle was stolen, as documented in the attached police report, and the vehicle's actual, currently valid plate is [CORRECT PLATE]. / (d) This citation lists an out-of-state plate that does not match my vehicle, as shown by my attached current registration.] Under California Vehicle Code §40215(a), LADOT must cancel a citation where, after Initial Review, it is satisfied the registered owner was not responsible for the violation. I ask that this citation be canceled on that basis, and I have attached a completed Declaration of Non-Ownership where applicable. Attached: [DMV Notice of Transfer & Release of Liability, or dealer/leasing-company Bill of Sale/Trade-in Agreement, rental/lease agreement, or IRS-approved donation document, plus a completed Declaration of Non-Ownership form; or a stolen-vehicle police report plus insurance payoff documentation or an official police garage tow receipt; or a stolen-license-plate police report plus valid DMV registration for the replacement plate; or current vehicle registration showing the out-of-state plate mismatch]. 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 number, license plate, and the violation code/date/time/location printed on the ticket, and act within the deadline: 21 calendar days from the date the citation was issued, or 14 calendar days from the mailing date of the first delinquent/overdue notice, whichever applies.
- 2Do not simply pay the citation if you intend to contest it — per California Vehicle Code §40204, paying the parking penalty without also requesting review closes the case and forfeits your right to contest.
- 3Request a free Initial Review from LADOT's Parking Violations Bureau by web (PVB Customer Service Portal), telephone, mail, or in person. No payment is required for this step. State your reason(s) for contesting and submit your evidence — LADOT's own Initial Review/RFI Checklist lists exactly what documentation is expected for common grounds (non-ownership, stolen vehicle/plate, broken meter, prior/duplicate payment, disabled vehicle, medical emergency, equipment already corrected, etc.).
- 4Wait for LADOT to mail its Initial Review decision. If the citation is canceled, you're done. If it's upheld as valid, the decision will explain why and how to request the next step.
- 5If dissatisfied with the Initial Review, request an Administrative Hearing within 21 calendar days of the mailing date of the Initial Review decision, using the Hearing Request Form (mail, phone, in person; online hearing requests are only available for the in-person option). State law (CVC §40215(b)) requires you to first deposit (pay) the full parking penalty before the hearing is scheduled, unless you qualify for and are granted a Pre-Payment (indigency) Waiver under HUD low-income guidelines.
- 6Choose an in-person hearing or a hearing by written declaration (by mail); for a written declaration, submit your written reason for contesting plus ALL supporting evidence, since you carry the burden of proving any defense you raise. An independent Hearing Examiner decides based on a preponderance of the evidence and mails a written decision; any refund owed is mailed roughly 30 days after the decision.
- 7If you disagree with the Hearing Examiner's final decision, you may appeal to the Los Angeles Superior Court within 30 calendar days of the decision being mailed (CVC §40230); the case is heard de novo and a court filing fee applies (refundable by the processing agency if you prevail).
bring receipts
Attach this evidence.
- ✓Sold/transferred vehicle: DMV Notice of Transfer & Release of Liability, OR a dealer/leasing-company Bill of Sale or Trade-in Agreement (private-party sales not accepted for this route), OR a rental/lease agreement, OR an IRS-approved vehicle donation document from a charity — plus a completed Declaration of Non-Ownership form
- ✓Stolen vehicle: a stolen-and-recovery police report, or a stolen report plus insurance payoff documentation, or a stolen report plus an official police garage tow receipt
- ✓Stolen license plate: a police report documenting the theft, plus valid DMV registration for the replacement plate
- ✓Out-of-state plate mismatch: current vehicle registration
what Los Angeles rules say
The rule this rests on.
CVC §40215(a) — Initial review; cancellation if the registered owner was not responsible
This maps to several of LADOT's own Initial Review checklist categories ("Declaration of Non-Ownership," "Stolen Vehicle," "Stolen License Plate," "Not My Car (Out of State Plate Only)"). It is codified directly: CVC §40215(a) requires cancellation if, after initial review, the issuing agency is satisfied "the registered owner was not responsible for the violation." LADOT's FAQ separately warns that never receiving the citation is NOT itself a defense — notices go to the DMV address of record, so a seller must also complete the DMV's Release of Liability.
if this doesn’t work
Your next move.
If LADOT's Initial Review upholds the citation, you may request an Administrative Hearing within 21 calendar days of the mailing date of the Initial Review decision, using the Hearing Request Form. State law (CVC §40215(b)) requires you to deposit the full parking penalty before the hearing is scheduled, unless you qualify for a Pre-Payment (indigency) Waiver under HUD low-income guidelines. An independent Hearing Examiner decides based on a preponderance of the evidence and mails a written decision. If you disagree with that decision, you may appeal to the Los Angeles Superior Court within 30 calendar days of the decision being mailed (CVC §40230); the case is heard de novo and a court filing fee applies, refundable by the processing agency if you prevail.
questions people ask
FAQ.
I sold my car months ago — why am I still getting citations?
LADOT's Adjudication Division FAQ explains this happens because notices go to the DMV address of record. If you sold, gifted, or transferred the vehicle before the citation date, complete the DMV's Notice of Transfer & Release of Liability (or provide a dealer bill of sale, lease agreement, or donation document) along with a Declaration of Non-Ownership.
Does 'I never received the citation' count as a defense?
No. LADOT's FAQ is explicit that never receiving the notice is not itself a defense — it's mailed to the DMV address of record, so keeping that address current (or completing a Release of Liability after a sale) is the seller's responsibility.
My license plate — not the whole car — was stolen. Does this still apply?
Yes. LADOT's checklist has a dedicated "Stolen License Plate" category, which requires a police report documenting the theft plus your valid DMV registration for the replacement plate.
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