When you are issued a parking, photo enforcement, or minor moving violation ticket in the District of Columbia, you have three options to respond to the ticket, according to DC law: pay it, admit with an explanation, or contest it. After 30 calendar days without a response, a penalty equal to the fine will apply.
After 60 calendar days you will be deemed liable for the ticket. You have the option to file a Motion to Vacate after being deemed liable.
You must respond to a ticket by paying the ticket and penalties, admitting with an explanation, or contesting a ticket within 120 calendar days. After this time the ticket is assigned to collections and you no longer have any administrative adjudication options. After 120 calendar days you must pay the ticket to remove it from your record.
Do not pay the ticket if you want to admit with an explanation or contest it. Once you pay the ticket (either the original fine, the penalty or both), you no longer have the administrative option to adjudicate it.
Details on how to respond to a ticket are listed below.
Pay A Ticket
Admit with an Explanation
You can admit with an explanation to try to dismiss the fines and/or penalties. To do so, provide DC DMV with all the information and documentation that supports your reasons for admitting with an explanation.
DC DMV cannot research any evidence for you, but you can provide any evidence, such as pictures identifying street signs, buildings, and your vehicle, police reports, and vehicle registration, that support your claims. DC DMV will consider only the evidence that you submit with your adjudication request.
DC DMV offers online or by mail adjudication of parking or photo enforcement ticket fines and penalties.
Contest Tickets
If you believe a ticket was wrongly issued, you may contest it and request a dismissal or fine reduction. To do so, provide DC DMV with all the information and documentation that supports your reasons for contesting.
How To Respond
For specific information on responding to parking or photo enforcement violations, view the information at the link below:
For specific information on responding to minor moving violations, view the information at the link below:
Note: After 30 calendar days, a penalty equal to the fine will also apply. After 60 calendar days, you must file a Motion to Vacate. The Motion to Vacate form and instructions are available at the link below:
Sign Language Translation
Requests for an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter require two weeks notice. For scheduled hearings, including walk-in and virtual hearings on a minor moving, parking and photo enforcement violations, please submit ASL interpreter requests in-person or via email at [email protected]. For email submissions, enter “ASL Interpreter Request” in the subject line. The hearing request should include your name, hearing date and ticket number. If the hearing is related to the reinstatement of a driver license or privilege to operate a vehicle in DC, include your driver license number. Adjudication Services will arrange for an interpreter and confirm scheduling via email.