Fight a Miami parking ticket when you already paid
You were cited for an 'overlooked payment' or e-permit violation — e.g., a meter, kiosk, or app receipt the officer didn't see, or a valid e-permit on file — even though you had in fact paid for, or were authorized for, that parking session at that time and location.
the statement
Copy, customize, submit.
To: Miami-Dade Clerk of the Court and Comptroller — Parking Operations Department Re: Citation No. [CITATION NUMBER] Plate: [PLATE] ([STATE]) Date/Time: [DATE], [TIME] Location cited: [LOCATION] I am requesting a County Court hearing to contest this citation and respectfully ask that it be dismissed. [If applicable: I have also submitted, or am concurrently submitting, the Miami Parking Authority's online Citation Review Waiver Request for this overlooked-payment/e-permit citation.] On [DATE], I paid for parking at [LOCATION] through [PAYMENT METHOD — meter / PARCS kiosk / parking app], or held a valid e-permit covering that date and time. My [RECEIPT / APP CONFIRMATION / E-PERMIT SCREENSHOT] shows [PAYMENT OR PERMIT DETAILS — time, location, permit number], confirming I had valid, paid-for parking, or valid permit authorization, at the location and time cited on this citation. Under City of Miami Code § 35-165(b), and consistent with the Miami Parking Authority's own published Citation Review process for citations issued in error for overlooked payment or e-permit violations, I ask that this citation be dismissed because the payment or permit record shows no violation in fact occurred. Attached: [copy of the citation; paid-status support document (meter/kiosk receipt, credit-card statement, or app payment confirmation) or e-permit screenshot showing the date, time, and location]. 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.
- 1Read the citation and decide what you're disputing: (a) a purely administrative error — you actually paid, or had a valid e-permit, but the citation says otherwise — or (b) the underlying violation itself.
- 2For (a) overlooked-payment or e-permit citations only: submit MPA's online "Citation Review" Waiver Request Form at workflow.miamiparking.com/citation-review/submit, attaching a copy of the citation and paid-status proof (receipt, credit-card statement, app confirmation, etc.). MPA emails you the result. Any other citation inquiry is directed to the county's Parking Violations Bureau.
- 3For a citation coded as violation 15 (disabled parking space) or 19 (stroller space) where a valid disabled permit was in use: skip the hearing process and submit the Clerk's "Affidavit — Disabled Parking Space" (or "Affidavit for Disabled Parking at Meter") with a copy of the permit registration, a photocopy of the permit owner's driver's license/ID, and the $7.50 statutory dismissal fee; the Clerk "shall dismiss the citation" on receipt of valid proof.
- 4For any other contest: request a County Court hearing within 30 days of the citation's issue date using the Clerk's "Request for Court Hearing" form (CLK/CT. 332). Submit it by email to parkingCT@miamidadeclerk.gov, by mail to the Parking Operations Department, or in person at any Clerk's Office location. Requesting a hearing waives your right to simply pay the civil penalty (Fla. Stat. § 316.1967(4)).
- 5The Clerk mails a Notice to Appear with your hearing date and Zoom/phone details (or check your hearing date anytime through the Clerk's Parking Service Assistant / online parking-citation search). Join by Zoom or phone at the scheduled time and present any evidence by sharing your screen.
- 6If you are found guilty, the court may impose an additional penalty (not exceeding $100) plus court costs, payable at the time of the hearing (Fla. Stat. § 316.1967(4)). If you fail to appear, the hearing may proceed without you and you may be found guilty as if you had attended — and, without a bond posted, the vehicle or license plate may be subject to impoundment.
bring receipts
Attach this evidence.
- ✓A copy of the citation
- ✓Paid-status support document — meter/kiosk receipt, credit-card statement, or app payment confirmation showing the date, time, and location
- ✓A screenshot of a valid e-permit covering that date/time, if the citation was for a permit violation
what Miami rules say
The rule this rests on.
City of Miami Code § 35-165(b) — Invoice and citations by mail (right to dispute/appeal an invoice issued in error)
The Miami Parking Authority runs a dedicated 'Citation Review' process specifically for citations issued for overlooked payment or e-permit violations only — you submit online with a copy of the citation and paid-status proof, and MPA emails you the result. Any other citation inquiry is directed to the county's Parking Violations Bureau. This administrative review sits alongside, and does not replace, the statutory invoice-dispute right in City Code § 35-165(b) for metered/PARCS invoices issued in error.
if this doesn’t work
Your next move.
If the court finds you guilty at the hearing, it may impose an additional penalty of up to $100 plus court costs, due at the time of the hearing (Fla. Stat. § 316.1967(4)). Failing to appear for your scheduled hearing can result in a guilty finding as if you had attended, and — without a bond posted — your vehicle or license plate may be subject to impoundment. The record does not describe a further appeal step beyond the County Court hearing itself.
questions people ask
FAQ.
Should I use MPA's Citation Review or request a County Court hearing?
MPA's online Citation Review is specifically for overlooked-payment or e-permit citations — submit there first with your citation copy and paid-status proof. Any other citation inquiry is directed to the county's Parking Violations Bureau, and City Code § 35-165(b) separately preserves your right to dispute a metered/PARCS invoice issued in error.
What counts as proof I already paid?
A meter/kiosk receipt, a credit-card statement showing the charge, or an app payment confirmation showing the date, time, and location. For an e-permit citation, a screenshot of the valid permit covering that date and time.
Does MPA guarantee a response?
The record states MPA emails you the result of a Citation Review submission, but does not specify a guaranteed turnaround time.
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