Opinion ID: 164039
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Denver's Parking Regime

Text: 3 The material facts concerning the procedures used by Denver for enforcing its parking regulations are not in dispute. 4 In authorizing the collection of parking fines, Denver's Municipal Code states that [t]he presiding county judge and the county judges who hear traffic cases shall specify by suitable schedules the fines for violations of Article VII [pertaining to parking violations]. Denver, Colo., Municipal Code § 54-795 (hereafter Municipal Code). The City issues over 600,000 parking citations each year pursuant to this section of the Municipal Code. 5 Upon receipt of a ticket, the putative violator has twenty days to pay the ticket. If the fine is paid within twenty days, the matter is concluded. If the recipient wishes to contest the ticket, he is instructed to call the phone number printed on the ticket. Upon calling the listed number, the ticket recipient is advised either to submit specific documentation for an investigation or to appear in person at the office of the parking referee in Denver. Recipients who appear at the parking referee's office are advised of the procedures relevant to the hearing and are then given an opportunity to seek a fine reduction. If the citation cannot be resolved through fine reduction, the matter is set for a hearing before a Denver County Court judge or magistrate. As long as the ticket recipient either pays the fine or takes one of the above steps to challenge the ticket within the twenty days, no late fee is imposed. 6 If the recipient does not respond to the ticket within twenty days, the City sends out a series of notices to the registered owner of the vehicle. These notices advise that a late fee has been added to the original fine for failure to respond in a timely manner, and instruct the alleged violator to pay the fine. The notices also list a phone number to dispute the citation, and advise that failure to respond may result in seizure of the vehicle. Third and fourth notices sent by the City similarly inform ticket recipients that their cars may be seized for nonpayment of the parking fine and the associated late fee. If the twenty-day period lapses before the recipient has the matter set for a hearing, the magistrate has discretion to impose all or part of the late fee. However, if the recipient succeeds on the merits of his case, no late fee is imposed. 7 The language printed on the ticket in relevant part reads: 1 8 For information or to dispute this citation contact (303) 296-2595, or send written inquiries to: 9 Denver Parking Violations Bureau P.O. Box 46500 Denver, CO 80201-6500 SEE REVERSE SIDE FOR IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS The reverse side states: TO VIOLATOR 10 Within 20 days you must respond to the charge(s) of violating the revised Municipal Code of the City and County of Denver, Colorado, and/or Airport Rules and Regulations, which violation(s) occurred in the City and County of Denver. 11 If payment is not received within 20 calendar days, the fine is increased to the following: 12 Viol. Code $ Due After 20 Calendar Days 23 $50 (No Penalty) All Others Fine Amt. is Doubled 13 FAILURE TO PAY PARKING FINES MAY SUBJECT MOTOR VEHICLE TO SEIZURE 14 Plaintiffs' principal claim is that because the ticket's statement that the fine will be doubled if it is not paid within twenty days does not contain an exception for cases when the ticket is challenged through the appropriate procedures, the City illegitimately pressures recipients to pay the fine rather than assert their right to challenge the substantive violation alleged in the ticket.