Double Parking Ticket in California: What It Means and How to Fight It

Double parking — stopping alongside a vehicle already parked at the curb, blocking traffic — is prohibited throughout California under CVC § 22500(h). It's one of the more frequently issued violations in dense urban areas, and it's a ticket that gig economy delivery drivers receive disproportionately. Here is what the law says, what defenses exist, and how to contest a double parking citation.

What California Law Says About Double Parking

California Vehicle Code § 22500(h) prohibits parking or leaving a vehicle standing "alongside another vehicle stopped, parked, or standing at the curb or edge of a highway" — in other words, double parking.

The prohibition applies in traffic lanes and on any highway. There is no minimum time threshold: stopping for 30 seconds to run a package to a door technically qualifies, though enforcement in practice depends on whether an officer observes the vehicle.

Fine Amounts for Double Parking in California

Fine schedules vary by city:

• Los Angeles: Double parking (CVC § 22500) violations in LA typically run in the $80–$100 range before state surcharges.
• San Francisco: As one of the highest-fine jurisdictions in the state, SF double parking fines are substantial. San Francisco generates close to $100 per capita annually from parking enforcement.
• Other cities: Most California cities apply base fines in the $65–$100 range for CVC § 22500 violations, subject to state surcharges.

Who Gets Double Parking Tickets Most Often

Double parking citations disproportionately affect gig economy delivery drivers — DoorDash, UberEats, Amazon, and similar services. The economics are straightforward: finding a legal parking space consumes time that directly cuts into per-delivery earnings. Many drivers accept the risk of an occasional citation as a cost of doing business.

This creates a real policy tension in California cities, where delivery demand has increased substantially while parking infrastructure hasn't expanded. As of 2025, several California cities are piloting designated commercial loading zones for delivery vehicles, but implementation is uneven.

Is There a "Delivery Exception" to Double Parking in California?

Formally, no. CVC § 22500(h) applies to all drivers, including commercial deliveries.

However, there is a related provision. California Vehicle Code § 22500.1 governs commercial vehicles and allows for "reasonable" loading and unloading in zones designated for that purpose. Yellow curb zones (commercial loading) exist specifically for this purpose — typically 30 minutes, enforced Monday through Saturday, 7 AM to 6 PM.

If you received a double parking ticket while making a delivery: - If you were at a yellow curb and a commercial vehicle: a § 22500.1 defense may apply - If you were alongside a parked vehicle in a traffic lane: CVC § 22500(h) applies without exception

The reality is that delivery drivers who contest double parking tickets rarely prevail unless the citation contains a factual error (wrong location, wrong vehicle, wrong time).

Defenses Against a Double Parking Ticket in California

Because double parking is a clearly defined factual violation, viable defenses are limited. The most effective ones are:

1. Officer Identification Error

If the officer cited the wrong vehicle — wrong license plate, wrong address, wrong violation code — this is contestable. Compare every field on the citation to your actual vehicle and location.

2. Citation Time or Location Error

If the time or location on the citation is incorrect, you may contest. For example, if the citation says 10:15 AM but you have app records, receipts, or dashcam footage showing you were at a different location at that time, this is a factual defense.

3. You Were Not Parked — You Were Briefly Stopped in Traffic

CVC § 22500(h) applies to parking and standing. If you were stopped momentarily in a traffic lane due to traffic congestion (not alongside a parked vehicle at the curb), this is a different situation. This is a difficult defense to prove without dashcam footage.

4. Emergency Circumstances

If you stopped due to a mechanical failure, medical emergency, or similar urgent circumstance, you may request consideration on those grounds. This is a discretionary basis for dismissal — not a legal defense — and depends on the reviewer's judgment.

How to Contest a Double Parking Ticket

Step 1: Review the Citation Carefully

Before writing anything, examine the citation for: - Citation number (correct?) - License plate number (your vehicle?) - Date and time (do you have any records contradicting these?) - Location / address (does this match where you were?) - Violation code cited (§ 22500(h) for double parking?)

Any factual error on the citation is potential grounds for dismissal.

Step 2: File an Initial Administrative Review (Within 21 Days)

Go to your city's citation portal: - Los Angeles: ladotparking.org - San Francisco: sfmta.com → Contest Citation - San Diego: sandiego.gov/parking/citations/appeal - San Jose: pticket.com/sanjose - Oakland: oaklandca.gov

Request an Initial Administrative Review. No payment required at this stage. You have 21 days from the citation date under CVC § 40215(a).

Step 3: Write Your Protest

If you have evidence of a factual error: "I am contesting citation #[number] issued on [date] at [location]. The citation identifies the vehicle as [plate listed on ticket]. My vehicle's license plate is [your plate]. The cited plate does not match my vehicle. [Or: The cited location does not match my vehicle's location at the indicated time, as shown in Exhibit A.] I request dismissal of this citation based on officer identification error."

If you have no factual error but have an emergency defense: "I am contesting citation #[number] issued on [date]. My vehicle briefly stopped alongside traffic at [location] due to [describe emergency/medical/mechanical situation]. I am requesting discretionary dismissal based on the emergency circumstances. [Attach any supporting documentation.]"

Step 4: If Denied, File for an Administrative Hearing

Within 21 days of receiving the Stage 1 denial, request a Stage 2 administrative hearing. You must deposit the full fine in advance. Present your evidence to an independent hearing officer.

If You're a Gig Worker Getting Repeated Double Parking Tickets

If double parking citations are a recurring cost in your work, consider:

Yellow curb zones: Use them whenever available. Yellow curb (commercial loading) is designed for exactly this purpose.

App-based payment: Using ParkMobile or other apps to pay at a legal space creates a timestamped receipt that can help in disputes over timing.

Payment plans: Under CVC § 40220, California mandates payment plans (capped at $25/month for amounts under $500) for individuals who qualify based on income. The application window is 120 days from citation issuance.

Multiple unpaid citations: Under CVC § 22651(i), a vehicle with five or more unpaid citations becomes eligible for booting. If your vehicle is used for commercial deliveries and accumulates unpaid tickets, the risk of being booted during a shift is real.

Double parking tickets are among the harder California citations to contest without clear evidence of a factual error. But factual errors — wrong plate, wrong address, wrong time — do happen, and those are worth challenging. Our California Parking Ticket Dispute Guide includes the full California dispute process with instructions for all major violation types and the evidence checklist that maximizes your chances at both the review and hearing stages.