Safety & Security Report

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Navigating the Criminal Justice System

Parking Tickets | Traffic Tickets | Criminal Tickets

How Do I Take Care Of My Parking Ticket?

You can pay your parking fine by using the yellow envelope your ticket was in to submit payment or online by going to http://www.ezpaycorp.com. Remember to:
  • pay the fine before the due date,
  • write your ticket number on your check, and
  • put a stamp on the envelope prior to mailing.
If you wish to appeal a parking ticket you must request either an administrative review or hearing,
  • within twenty one (21) days of the date issuance of the ticket,

    •   - OR -
  • within ten (10) days from the date of the mailing of the Notice Delinquent Violation.
If you do not make your request within this period of time, the law specifies that you lose your right to appeal the ticket.

Please Note: In the Hospital / Medical Center area, parking tickets are issued by the Palo Alto Police Department. To contest a ticket received in that area, contact the Palo Alto Police Department Citations Department at 329-2252 for instructions.

You may appeal your parking ticket by:

  • Contacting Reino Enforcement Technology at 1-800-281-7275, or
  • Completing & submitting the form titled "A Request for a Parking Citation Administrative Review."
    • The form is available:
    • Submit the completed form along with:
      • photocopy of the ticket,
      • photocopy of your current parking permit, and
      • any supporting documentation you may have to
    • US Mail:
      • Office of Parking Violations, PO BOX 849, San Jose, CA 95106-0849, or
      • Stanford Department of Public Safety, 711 Serra St., Stanford, CA 94305
      • In person: Stanford Department of Public Safety
    • Fax: (650) 725-8485
To ensure that your appeal is received in a timely fashion, it is recommended that you send it certified US mail, return receipt requested.

Please Note: The appeal procedure can only be pursued by the person who received the parking ticket.

An appeal board will review the circumstances surrounding the issuance of the ticket. The results of this review are forwarded to the Santa Clara County Office of Parking Violations. You will be notified by mail of the results of the review. This can take from eight to ten weeks. Reino Enforcement Technology will send out notification of the results. There are two possible dispositions: VALID or DISMISSED. If the ticket is deemed VALID, the notification will inform you of the next steps to take. If the disposition is DISMISSED, you will not be responsible for any fine or penalties. If you have any questions about the appeal process, contact Reino Enforcement Technology at 1-800-281-7275.

Consequences of not paying parking fine: Failure to pay the parking fine within the specified time period will result in an additional late fee. An administrative hold will be placed against the vehicle's registration by the Department of Motor Vehicles (CVC 22651(i)). If you have five (5) or more outstanding parking tickets from Stanford or other other local jurisdictions and your vehicle is found parked on campus, your vehicle may be "booted" or towed and will not be released until all fines have been paid.

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How Do I Take Care Of My Traffic Ticket?

You should get a courtesy notice 30 - 45 days after you get your ticket. This notice tells you about your options. Your courtesy notice will have a due date. You must exercise your options by that date. If you do not get a courtesy notice by the date written at the bottom of your ticket, you must contact the court by phone, in person, or by mail by that same date.

When you get a ticket, you have several options:

  • Forfeit (pay) bail. To do this, you do not have to go to Court. Send your payment and a copy of the ticket or the courtesy notice to the courthouse. When the Court receives your bail (payment), your case will be closed. It will show up as a conviction on your DMV record.
  • Correct the violation. If your ticket is for a correctable violation (expired registration, headlight out, license not in your possession, no proof of insurance etc.), you will have to:
    • fix the problem that you received the ticket for,
    • have your ticket "signed-off" by an authorized person, and
    • pay a $10.00 dismissal fee to the Court.
    Once corrected, these violations can be "signed-off" by the following authorized persons:
    • Equipment violation: Deputy/Police Officer only.
    • Registration violation: Deputy/Police Officer or the DMV.
    • License violation: Deputy/Police Officer, DMV or Court Clerk.
    • Insurance violation: Court Clerk only.
  • Contest your ticket in Court.
    • You will need to request a court date from the Court Clerk before your due date. The first court hearing after you get your ticket is the Arraignment. At this hearing, the Traffic Commissioner will tell you what the charges are, tell you about your rights and ask you if you want to plead "guilty, not guilty, or no contest." If you plead "not guilty" you will have a second court date, the Court Trial. The trial is when a Commissioner hears what both you and the Deputy you received the ticket from say about the incident. The Commissioner will apply the law to the facts stated in trial and render a legal decision.

If you complete Traffic School, the Court will dismiss the charge. Your courtesy notice will say if you can go to traffic school. Generally, you can go to traffic school if you have a valid driver's license and your ticket is for an infraction that is a moving violation. You cannot go to Traffic School for misdemeanor, equipment or non-moving violations. Also, you cannot go to school for any ticket that lists more than one violation or if you have gone to Traffic School for a ticket that you got within the last 18 months.
NOTE: You must send proof to the Court that you finished traffic school or the ticket will show up on your DMV record, which may affect your car insurance.

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How Do I Take Care Of My Criminal Ticket?

If you receive a ticket for a criminal violation (minor in possession, suspended driver's license, petty theft, vandalism, etc.) from a law enforcement officer, your appearance in court is mandatory. Unless otherwise noted on the bottom of your ticket, you must appear at the Palo Alto branch of the Santa Clara County Superior Court at 270 Grant Avenue in Palo Alto on or before the date and time noted on your ticket. Look for the appearance (arraignment) date directly below where you signed the ticket. Misdemeanor crimes are generally punishable by a maximum fine of $1000 and a county jail term of one year or less. Court appearances are mandatory for criminal cases. WARNING: Failure to appear may result in a warrant for your arrest.

On your court date, it is recommended that you arrive early. You will need time to park, go through the metal detector at the entrance and find which court room you have been assigned. Once inside the Palo Alto courthouse, go to the second floor to the Court Clerk's Office. Outside the office on the wall, check the posted court calendars for your name and courtroom. If your name is on a calendar, go directly to the courtroom. If not, report to the Criminal Court Clerk on the second floor. Be prepared to provide your identification and information on the alleged offense, including your ticket or other paperwork you may have received regarding the offense.

Once you are in the courtroom, make sure you follow these rules:
  • You must wear a shirt and shoes. You cannot wear tank tops, T-shirts or caps in the courtroom.
  • You cannot bring food or drinks and you cannot chew gum in the courtroom.
  • And, be sure to turn your cell phone and pager OFF!
The judge will call your name when your case is up. The judge will then:
  • Inform you of the charges against you,
  • Advise you of your constitutional rights, and
  • Let you know that if you cannot afford an attorney, the court will appoint one for you.
The judge will answer any questions you may have and will explain the consequences of pleading guilty or not guilty. Once you understand and are ready, you will then enter a plea of:
  • Not Guilty: You are stating that you did not commit the crime.
  • Guilty: You are admitting that you committed the crime.
  • No Contest. Also known as "Nolo Contendere": You do not contest the charge. This plea has the same effect as a guilty plea, except that the subsequent conviction cannot be used against you as evidence of liability in a civil suit.

For more information on local Traffic or Criminal Courts, please see: http://www.scselfservice.org or contact the Stanford University Department of Public Safety Court Liaison with any court related questions at PublicSafety@lists.stanford.edu.

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