Where can I go to pay a parking ticket?
The Office of Parking Management is located at 160 Market Street. Payments can be made at the office, online, or via telephone using the phone number listed on back of citation.
Where can I report a broken meter?
Broken meters can be reported to The Office of Parking Management by calling (860)761-0004
Where can I park to pay a parking ticket?
Parking is available at the Morgan Street garage for .75 for the 1st half hour.
Can I pay for my taxes or receive Permits at the OPM office?
The Office of Parking Management does not take payments for taxes and does not issue Permits. This can be obtained through The City of Hartford located at 550 Main Street, Hartford CT. (860) 522-4888.
To Contest a Parking Citation
Questions and Answers on Parking Citation Violations
If you believe that your parking citation was issued in error, you have the
right to contest the citation. Parking citations may be contested for a
variety of reasons. Some common reasons, and the actions required to
remedy disputes can be explored in the list below:
Parking citations
cannot be contested on the grounds that the registered owner is unable to pay,
or on the grounds that you believe that the parking regulation in question is
unfair.
If, after reviewing the information in the list above, you wish to contest your
citation you (or someone on your behalf) may appear before the Hearing Officer
at your scheduled hearing date, which is printed on the front of your parking
citation between 9AM & 1PM. Your hearing will be held at the:
City of Hartford
Citation Hearing Office
160
B Market Street
Hartford, CT 06103-0157
At the Hearing, you
will be asked to complete a Statement of Responsibility, which informs you of
your legal rights.
If the citation is
overturned you will be sent a Notice of Assessment.
If the citation is not overturned, and you wish to
appeal the decision of the Hearing Officer, you must file a claim with the Civil
Clerk of the State of Connecticut Superior Court along with a $35 Filing Fee
within thirty (30) days of the Mailing Date of the Denil Letter.
If you do not appeal the decision of the Hearing Officer within the specified thirty (30) day timeframe, a Judgment will be entered for the City of Hartford and against you for all fines and fees you are responsible to pay.
If you wish to set
the matter for Superior Court, you must appear in person.
Do Not Ignore the Citation! When a Judgment is
entered, your wages and property are subject to attachment and if not paid,
additional collection fees may apply.
Reporting Faded,
Illegible, or Missing Signs
If a sign is faded,
obscured, illegible, or missing and you received a parking citation, call the
Office of Parking Management at (860) 761-0004 to file a report.
If you wish to contest your citation, you (or someone on your behalf) may appear
before the Hearing Officer at your scheduled hearing date, which it printed on
the front of your parking citation between 9AM & 1PM. Your hearing will be held
at the:
City of Hartford
Citation Hearing Office
160
B Market Street
Hartford, CT 06103-0157
Overdue Notices
If you receive an
overdue payment notice for a citation which you do not believe was issued to
your vehicle, you (or someone on your behalf) may appear before the Hearing
Officer at your scheduled hearing date, which it printed on the front of your
parking citation between 9AM & 1PM. Your hearing will be held at the:
City of Hartford
Citation Hearing Office
160
B Market Street
Hartford, CT 06103-0157
“I received a citation
because the parking meter was broken.”
Call the Office of
Parking Management at (860) 761-0004 to report the Pay Station or parking meter
that is inoperative and request that a maintenance technician examine the meter
to initiate repairs.
If you wish to contest your citation, you (or someone on your behalf) may appear
before the Hearing Officer at your scheduled hearing date, which it printed on
the front of your parking citation between 9AM & 1PM. Your hearing will be held
at the:
City of Hartford
Citation Hearing Office
160
B Market Street
Hartford, CT 06103-0157
Top^
“I am receiving tickets
for a car I sold.”
When a vehicle is sold
in the State of Connecticut, the license plates remain with the owner and must
be removed or canceled at the Department of Motor Vehicles. To be released from
responsibility for the parking citation, you must provide both proof of plate
cancellation AND proof of vehicle sale. Any documentation provided to the
Hearing Officer must clearly indicate the date of the sale, transfer, or
disposal.
One of the following
documents is required for proof of cancellation:
- A Department of Motor Vehicle registration from the state the vehicle
is registered.
- Copy of your registration stamped "plate cancelled" from the
Department of Motor Vehicle from the state the vehicle is registered in.
- A letter (or equivalent) from the Department of Motor Vehicles from
the state the vehicle is registered in, showing the new owner.
- A letter (or equivalent) on Department of Motor Vehicles letterhead
that is signed by a Department of Motor Vehicles official stating that your
plates have been cancelled.
For proof of sale or
disposal, a copy of the bill of sale AND a copy of any of the following
documents is required:
- Title transfer paperwork
- Department of Motor Vehicles printout showing new owner
- Insurance cancellation paperwork
- Trade-in agreement (if your vehicle was traded to a
dealer)
- Towing/Salvage company paperwork
- Divorce decree
- Paperwork that shows vehicle was donated
- Bank/Finance company papers showing vehicle was
repossessed
- A notarized bill of sale
If the required
documents have been lost or destroyed, you may appear before the Hearing
Officer.
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“My vehicle plate was
lost, missing, or stolen when the citation was issued.”
You may challenge citations issued while your vehicle is missing if the citations were issued after the vehicle was reported stolen, and before it is recovered. Please obtain a copy of the police department’s stolen vehicle or plate theft report for the Citation Hearing Office. The police report must include the date and
time the incident occurred, recovery date (if the vehicle was recovered) and police officer's signature. If the stolen vehicle or plate report does not
indicate the recovery date, you must also submit a copy of the impound lot release slip which indicates the vehicle release date to you.
If your vehicle has not been recovered, you must obtain a letter from your insurance company indicating that a claim to cancel your insurance has been submitted.
If you do not have a copy of the police report because you live outside the Greater Hartford metropolitan area. You may submit a copy of either a proof of cancellation
receipt or proof of obtaining replacement plates (old and new vehicle registrations) from the Department of Motor Vehicle or a letter on Department of
Motor Vehicle letterhead (or equivalent) that is signed by a Department of Motor Vehicles official from the state the vehicle is registered in stating that your
plates have been cancelled.
We will compare the
State of Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles identification number (VIN #)
and vehicle description on the citation with those registered to the plates. We
will release your responsibility for any citations where the VIN # and vehicle
description do not match those on record. If they do match, the citations are
valid and payment is due.
If you wish to contest your citation, you (or someone on your behalf) may appear
before the Hearing Officer at your scheduled hearing date, which it printed on
the front of your parking citation between 9AM & 1PM. Your hearing will be held
at the:
City of Hartford
Citation Hearing Office
160
B Market Street
Hartford, CT 06103-0157
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“The registered owner
is deceased.”
If you receive a notice
of citation for a vehicle registered to someone who is deceased, please send a
copy of the notice, a brief letter of explanation, and a copy of the death
certificate and vehicle registration or title to the Citation Hearing Office.
You will receive a letter outlining our findings, and whether or not the
citation is still valid.
If the citation was
issued before the date of death, the citation will be dismissed by the Hearing
Officer. If the citation was issued after the date of death, the citation is
valid and must be paid by the operator or new registered owner.
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"I received a notice of
citation, but I was not at the location listed on the citation.”
If there has been an
obvious error, the citation will be dismissed by the Hearing Officer. If we
cannot find an error on the citation and you wish to contest your citation, you
(or someone on your behalf) may appear before the Hearing Officer at your
scheduled hearing date, which is printed on the front of your parking citation
between 9AM & 1PM. Your hearing will be held at the:
City of Hartford
Citation Hearing Office
160
B Market Street
Hartford, CT 06103-0157
Top^
“I received a citation
for parking at a parking meter (or in a zone) for vehicles which displayed the
wheel chair symbol. Why did I get a citation, I am disabled.”
Per the State of
Connecticut General Statute 14-253a(e) and 14-307, any vehicle with
distinguishing license plates or an identifying wheel chair symbol placard
obtained by a person with a mobility impairment as prescribed by law, and being
utilized by such person, may be parked free of charge in a parking metered space
or within a legal parking zone during such hours that parking is permitted on
such a street or block, for a time period authorized by the parking ordinance or
for two (2) consecutive hours, regardless of the time period otherwise allowed
for parking in the parking metered spaces or within a legal parking zone.
The State of
Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES) issue
wheel chair symbol placards and hangtags, which are valid for ???HOW MANY
YEARS???. The expiration month and year appear at the bottom of the hangtag or
placard below the wheel chair symbol.
A person properly displaying distinguishing license plates or an identifying
wheel chair symbol hangtag or placard electing to avail themselves of the said
hours of parking must vacate such parking metered space or multi-space section
at the end of the said authorized time period in which the parking metered space
or legal parking zone was utilized by such person without payment, and such
person's vehicle must be moved from the parking metered space or legal parking
zone as required by the City of Hartford Municipal Code. The City ordinance
requires your wheel chair symbol placard or hangtag to be displayed on the rear
view mirror.
If you believe you were cited in error or if you were using your hangtag in
someone else’s vehicle, you (or someone on your behalf) may appear before the
Hearing Officer at your scheduled hearing date, which is printed on the front of
your parking citation between 9AM & 1PM and bring your identifying wheel chair
symbol placard or hangtag and identification registration with you. Your
hearing will be held at the:
City of Hartford
Citation Hearing Office
160
B Market Street
Hartford, CT 06103-0157
To avoid any additional
fees, you must resolve the matter on or prior to date of your Hearing.
Possession of a wheel chair symbol placard or hangtag does not exempt you from
compliance with other parking regulations. If you were cited for, a violation
other than meter or overtime parking, your ticket is valid and payment is due.
Note: Disabled Veterans
("DV" Plates) do not automatically have handicap privileges. Please contact a
Citation Hearing Office representative between 10AM and 4PM at 1-860-757-0880.
A Customer Service Representative can send a copy of the citation for your
inspection.
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“I received a citation
for having an expired license plate.” or “I received the month and year stickers
but I lost them.” or “I have not had a chance to put the stickers on my plates.”
The State of Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles provides a thirty-day
grace period for vehicle registration renewals. If you have not renewed your
license plate within this timeframe, your ticket is valid. The front and rear
plates must be permanently affixed along with current month and year tabs on the
rear plate. If you registered your vehicle but failed to properly display the
month and year tabs, your ticket is valid. If you wish to contest your
citation, you (or someone on your behalf) may appear before the Hearing Officer
at your scheduled hearing date, which it printed on the front of your parking
citation between 9AM & 1PM. Your hearing will be held at the:
City of Hartford
Citation Hearing Office
160
B Market Street
Hartford, CT 06103-0157
Top^
“I received a citation for having improperly displaying my license plates; i.e.,
no front plate, a broken plate, or displaying your plate in the vehicle window.”
If you wish to contest your citation, you (or someone on your behalf) may appear
before the Hearing Officer at your scheduled hearing date, which it printed on
the front of your parking citation between 9AM & 1PM. Your hearing will be held
at the"
City of Hartford
Citation Hearing Office
160
B Market Street
Hartford, CT 06103-0157
Top^
“I have declared
bankruptcy.”
Under Federal Bankruptcy Statue 11 U.S., CA. Section, 523 - Bankruptcy does not
discharge any individual from payment of parking citation. If you wish to
contest your citation, you (or someone on your behalf) may appear before the
Hearing Officer at your scheduled hearing date, which it printed on the front of
your parking citation between 9AM & 1PM. Your hearing will be held at the:
City of Hartford
Citation Hearing Office
160
B Market Street
Hartford, CT 06103-0157
Top^
“I moved my car before
the street sweeper came by.”
If you were parked on the street anytime during the posted street sweeping
hours, the citation is valid. If you wish to contest your citation, you (or
someone on your behalf) may appear before the Hearing Officer at your scheduled
hearing date, which it printed on the front of your parking citation between 9AM
& 1PM. Your hearing will be held at the:
City of Hartford
Citation Hearing Office
160
B Market Street
Hartford, CT 06103-0157
Top^
What is a Parking Pay Station?
A Parking Pay Station is a solar-powered, multi-space parking meter that is easy
to use, smart, modern, and ruggedized for maximum security. The Parking Pay
Station has an electronic display/clock that provides the customer with user
information and directions. The Parking Pay Station prompts the customer for
payment instructions and works well even on our rainy, gray days.
Top^
What happens if the pay
station doesn’t work? Who to Call for
Assistance
If you are having
difficulties with a pay station, or if you would like to report a problem with a
parking meter, please call a Customer Service Representative at the Office of
Parking Management. The number to call is (860) 761-0004 to report the
problem. As a failsafe measure, the pay station’s two-way communication will
alert the Office of Parking Management of a technical problem immediately.
Occasionally a pay
station may have a problem accepting a particular form of payment (e.g., cards
or coins), but it will continue to accept other forms of payment. A message will
be provided to you and the appropriate coin or card slot will automatically
close, preventing you from paying by a method that is not in operation--or from
paying at all if a receipt can't be issued. If you have any questions about
credit or debit card payments, please call the Office of Parking Management at
(860) 761-0004 to report the problem.
A benefit to the citizenry in the rare situation when a pay station goes
completely off-line, an alarm is immediately sent to the Office of Parking
Management’s staff (via computer or a hand held monitoring device) notifying
them of the problem. In the meantime, the citizenry can still park in a space
near an out-of-service pay station as long as they purchase a receipt from
another nearby pay station (e.g., around the corner or across the street). This
is a benefit to the customer as currently they are prohibited from parking at
out-of-service meters.
In addition to out-of-order alarms sent to city staff, other messages are
communicated that allow for just-in-time maintenance, so that coin collection
canisters may be emptied before they jam and receipt paper rolls may be replaced
before they run out. The City of Hartford, Hartford Police Department, Hartford
Parking Authority, and its agents expects to see a significant reduction in
out-of-service times with the pay stations, compared with single-space meter.
