A parking ticket invoice (also called a “parking charge notice”) informs the owner of a motor vehicle of an infraction that occurred due to the wrongful parking of their car, and the associated cost they are required to pay. It can be issued by security companies, property managers, and parking garage/lot managers. Issuing parking fees can allow companies to turn a nuisance into an opportunity to increase revenue.

Common Ticketable Offenses

Privately issued tickets can be distributed for any activity the company deems as wrong (and can be proved in court as a wrongdoing). This can include:

• Double parking
• Staying past the allotted time (meter runs out)
• Parking in a handicap or reserved spot
• Blocking a fire hydrant, driveway, or throughway

Issuers can choose to charge different amounts based on the offense, or a general fee that is given for all violations.

Average Ticket Cost

Parking fees are generally up to the entity issuing the ticket to determine. However, states and municipalities often have established laws regarding the extent companies can go with issuing fines. Before a landowner begins issuing fines, it is important to confirm that the laws allow for private ticketing. Requesting the assistance of a licensed attorney can help with this process. The average cost of a one-time ticket ranges between $10 and $50. Parking garages, for example, often charge an amount increase per hour, with a significantly higher “overnight charge.” For each day the car spends parked in the lot without permission, a charge occurs, compiling the fees resulting in a hefty cost to the vehicle owner.

What Happens if a Private Ticket goes Unpaid?

For tickets issued by the police or a city/town employee that go unpaid, serious ramifications can result. Depending on the length of time that the ticket has gone unpaid, the number of tickets the driver has accumulated, and reasons for receiving the ticket(s), car owners can face having their vehicle booted, an increase in the amount owed for nonpaid fine(s), towing of the vehicle, having a warrant for the motorist to appear in court, and worst of all, the driver’s license could be suspended. For privately issued tickets by non-governmental employees, there is no legal requirement to pay any fee received. If an individual that received a ticket tore it up, the ticket issuer would have to pursue to the vehicle owner in a civil court to collect payment. Due to the impracticality of a company doing this for every non-paying owner, it is generally assumed that nothing will result for the motorist. To avoid repeat offenders, lot management companies should keep up-to-date tabs on those that were issued parking invoices. This ensures that an individual that parks wrongfully again will not only be ticketed, but towed or booted as well.