Vehicles: parking violations.

Existing law requires the schedule of parking penalties for parking violations and late payment penalties to be established by the governing body of the jurisdiction where the notice of violation is issued, as specified. This bill would specify that, when paid by mail, payment of a parking penalty or late payment penalty is deemed received on the date payment is postmarked. This bill would, notwithstanding any other law, prohibit a late payment penalty for a parking violation from exceeding 30% of the established parking penalty. Existing law establishes a process by which a person who has received a notice of a parking violation or a notice of a delinquent parking violation may contest the notice. Existing law requires the notice of delinquent parking violation to include information that renewal of the vehicle registration is contingent upon the registered owner paying the parking penalty or contesting the citation within 21 calendar days from the date of issuance of the citation or 14 calendar days after the mailing of the notice of delinquent parking violation, or filing a specified affidavit. Existing law prohibits the addition of additional fees, assessments, and charges if the owner complies with the above-described deadlines and requirements. Existing law authorizes a person to request an initial review of the notice by the issuing agency for a period of 21 calendar days from the issuance of the notice of the parking violation or 14 calendar days from the mailing of a notice of delinquent parking notification, exclusive of the days the processing agency receives a specified request and the day the processing agency complies with the request. This bill would extend the time for the registered owner to pay the penalty or contest the citation to 30 calendar days, and extend the time to pay following issuance of the notice of delinquent parking violation to 21 calendar days. The bill would prohibit the imposition of additional fees until after the expiration of 30 days from the date of issuance of the parking violation. The bill would prohibit governing bodies from sending citations to the Department of Motor Vehicles for registration renewal hold until after 30 days from the date of issuance of the parking citation. This bill would extend the time for the person to request an initial review to 30 calendar days from the issuance of the notice of the parking violation or 21 days from the mailing of a notice of delinquent parking notification, exclusive of the days the processing agency receives a specified request and the day the processing agency complies with the request. This bill would require its provisions to be implemented in a local jurisdiction on the first day of the local jurisdiction's first fiscal year following January 1, 2025. By creating new duties for local entities, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.