Handicap Parking Ticket in California: How to Fight It

Handicap parking violations in California fall into several distinct categories — and your options for fighting the ticket depend entirely on which one applies to you. Some carry significant fines with few defenses. Others can be reduced to a $25 administrative fee if you take the right steps within the right window.

Here is what California law says about handicap parking tickets and how to contest them.

What California Law Says About Handicap Parking

Blue curb zones (CVC § 22511.5): Reserved exclusively for vehicles displaying a valid Disabled Person Placard (DPP) or Disabled Veteran License Plate. Parking in a blue zone without displaying a valid credential is a violation.

Regular spaces with placard rights: Holders of valid disabled person placards are entitled to park in: - Blue curb (disabled person) zones — unlimited time - Green curb (short-term) zones — unlimited time - Metered zones — free, regardless of time limit, in many California cities

However, placard rights do not apply in: - Red curb (no stopping) zones - White curb (passenger loading) zones - Yellow curb (commercial loading) zones - "No Stopping" or "No Standing" zones - Fire hydrant zones (CVC § 22514)

The Two Types of Handicap Parking Tickets in California

Type 1: You Had a Valid Placard But Didn't Display It

This is the most favorable situation. Under CVC § 40226, if you can prove that a valid placard or disabled veteran license plate was in effect for your vehicle at the time of the citation, the issuing agency may collect only an administrative fee — maximum $25 — rather than the full fine.

What you need to prove: - The placard was valid (not expired) at the time and date of the citation - The placard was either yours or the placard holder was present in the vehicle

Evidence to submit: - A copy of the placard (both sides) - The placard registration card showing the valid owner and expiration date - If the placard belongs to a passenger: a signed letter from the placard holder confirming they were present in the vehicle at the time of the citation

How to use this defense: Request an initial administrative review through the city's citation portal within 21 days of the citation date. In your written protest, cite CVC § 40226, identify the placard number, state the expiration date, and attach copies. Request that the fine be reduced to the administrative fee.

Type 2: You Parked in a Handicap Zone Without Any Valid Placard

This is the serious violation. California imposes significant fines for parking in a blue zone or disabled parking space without a valid disabled person placard or disabled veteran license plate.

Base fines for this violation vary by city but are substantially higher than standard parking violations. State surcharges under CVC § 42001.5 add to the base amount, often bringing the total fine to $250 or more.

Defenses here are limited. The most viable are: - The space was not properly marked as a disabled parking space - Signage or curb markings were missing or inadequate - You were not the driver and can prove the vehicle was being operated by someone else

What Makes a Handicap Parking Space "Valid" for Enforcement

Not every blue curb or disabled parking sign is legally enforceable. For a violation to stand, the space must meet specific marking requirements.

Signs: A sign displaying the International Symbol of Access (the wheelchair symbol) must be posted. Under California Code of Regulations Title 24, the sign must be visible from the street and meet specific dimension and height requirements.

Curb markings: Blue paint must be visible. Severely faded blue curb paint may support a "not clearly visible" defense, though this is harder to win than similar arguments for red curb violations since blue zones are specifically marked.

Off-street parking: In private parking lots, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires accessible spaces to be marked with ground stencils and vertical signs. If either is missing or non-compliant, a violation citation may be contestable.

Can Someone Else Use Your Disabled Person Placard?

No. A disabled person placard is issued to an individual, not a vehicle. It is only valid when the named placard holder is being transported — either as the driver or a passenger.

Using a placard when the placard holder is not present is a misuse of the placard, which is a separate violation under CVC § 4461. This violation carries fines up to $1,000 and six months in county jail.

If you were cited for parking in a blue zone using someone else's placard without that person being present, you have very limited defense options.

The Placard-Not-Displayed Defense: Step by Step

1. Gather your evidence: Placard (copy front and back), placard registration card, letter from placard holder if applicable

2. File within 21 days: Go to your city's citation portal and request an Initial Administrative Review. Do not pay — paying waives your right to contest.

3. Write your protest:

4. Opening: "I am contesting citation #[number] issued on [date] based on CVC § 40226. At the time of the alleged violation, [vehicle/passenger] held valid Disabled Person Placard #[number], valid through [expiration date], but failed to properly display it."
5. Body: Describe who the placard belongs to, that they were present (if applicable), and that the placard was valid.
6. Attach: Copies of the placard and registration card.

7. Close: "Under CVC § 40226, I request that this citation be reduced to the administrative fee not to exceed $25."

8. If denied at Stage 1: Request a Stage 2 administrative hearing within 21 days of the denial letter. Deposit the full fine (or request a hardship waiver under CVC § 40220). Present your evidence to an independent hearing officer.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using an expired placard: An expired disabled person placard provides no protection under CVC § 40226. The law requires a valid placard at the time of the violation.

Arguing ADA rights at the parking agency: The Americans with Disabilities Act operates at the federal level. California parking agencies adjudicate under the CVC. Citing the ADA without connecting it to specific CVC code requirements does not help your case at the administrative review stage.

Not including the placard holder letter: If the placard belongs to a passenger and you don't provide a signed statement from the placard holder confirming their presence, reviewers typically deny the protest. Don't skip this step.

Fine Amounts for Handicap Parking Violations in California

Fine schedules vary by city and are subject to state surcharges. A rough guide:

• Parking in a disabled space without a placard: Base fine plus state surcharges, often $250–$350+ total
• Expired placard: Similar to no-placard violation
• Valid placard not displayed (CVC § 40226 defense): Administrative fee up to $25 if defense succeeds

Cities with higher general fine schedules (Los Angeles, San Francisco) tend to have higher base fines for ADA violations.

If you had a valid placard and simply didn't display it, California law gives you a specific, codified path to pay $25 instead of the full fine. It requires acting within 21 days and submitting the right documentation. Our California Parking Ticket Dispute Guide includes the complete CVC § 40226 defense template and a checklist of required documents for this specific situation.