Ticketing

Parking officers write tickets for expired meters and vehicle registrations, missing tags, residential parking and rush hour violations, failure to register a vehicle in the District, blocking snow emergency routes and other parking violations. DPW provides images of certain parking violations.

DPW’s meter enforcement is to promote turnover at the meters so motorists can conduct their business. By enforcing residential parking regulations, DPW increases residents’ access to parking spaces near their homes. DPW parking officers write parking tickets for expired meters and vehicle registrations, missing tags, residential permit parking and rush hour violations, double parking, failure to register a vehicle in the District, and blocking snow emergency routes, loading zones, driveways, crosswalks, hospital entrances, and bus stops.

Red top meter parking patrons that do not display a valid placard or license plate for persons with disabilities, or that do not pay the established meter rates throughout the District of Columbia, will be subject to ticketing or towing. View the press release on red top meter parking.

DPW tow crane operators may tow a vehicle, once it is ticketed, for any parking violation.

How You Can Help

• Parking is permitted at a broken meter but only for the time shown on the meter. Before leaving the vehicle, call (202) 541-6030 or 311 to report the broken meter. Please keep the confirmation number.
• Check the hours of operation on the meter as well as the signs to make sure you are parking legally.
• Check the signs at the curb to be sure you are parking legally.
• Park at a meter only for the time shown on the meter. No feeding the meter, please.
• Avoid parking on a rush hour street if you are unsure you will be able to move before rush hour begins.
• Register your vehicle in the District within 30 days of moving here.
• Listen to the local media (radio and television) to learn if a snow emergency has been or will be declared and avoid parking on snow emergency routes.
• Call the Towing Control Dispatch Center at (202) 576-6071 if you believe your vehicle has been towed.

Just the Facts

• The Department of Transportation regulates the use of public space, including identifying where signs and meters will be installed. The Department of Public Works and other enforcement agencies enforce the public space regulations, which include parking. The Department of Motor Vehicles adjudicates the tickets written by DPW.
• Metered parking spaces are found along the District’s commercial streets, and generally are in effect from 7 am to 10 pm, Monday through Saturday only.
• DPW does not enforce metered parking on Sundays or observed holidays.
• DC regulations prohibit exceeding the time on a meter. Parking officers identify vehicles that have exceeded the time on a meter by visual observation or by License Plate Recognition System (LPRS) technology. These officers do not know when a meter is broken – not all meters indicate when a failure has occurred.
• Automobiles housed in the District for 30 uninterrupted days are required to be registered and display a valid DC inspection sticker and license tags when parked on public space. The Department of Motor Vehicles can exempt students, military, elected and appointed government officials and diplomats from this requirement. More information is available from the Department of Motor Vehicles.
• The District Department of Transportation is responsible for parking meter operations. Learn more about meter operations.
• Vehicles displaying handicap license tags or signs may park, free of charge, for double the amount of time shown on the meter.
• Ticket payment instructions are printed on the reverse side of all tickets. Parking tickets are adjudicated by the Department of Motor Vehicles.
• The DMV website has complete information about residential permit parking, visitor parking and other permit parking options.

Service Need

DPW enforces parking and vehicle regulations to promote traffic flow and safety and ensure residents have access to parking spaces near their homes.

Service at a Glance

Request this Service

Visit the Service Request Center - http://311.dc.gov

Related Services

• Abandoned and Dangerous Vehicles
• Booting and Impoundment
• Locate a Towed Vehicle
• Parking Regulations
• TicPix
• Towing

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