Appeal a Citation

Through Parking and Transportation Services (PTS), you have an opportunity to appeal parking and traffic citations issued on campus. The PTS appeals process not only provides you with an objective review of your appeal, it also provides PTS an opportunity to evaluate university rules and regulations for parking and traffic.

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To appeal a ticket

Submit an appeal within 12 days of the date of the ticket and with the required information
An appeals officer reviews your appeal
The appeals officer makes one of these decisions: Reduced, Warning, Voided, Denied
If you disagree with the decision of the appeals officer, you may appeal to the Appeals Panel

Invalid reasons for appealing tickets

Some of the most common defenses used in appealing tickets, all of which are normally rejected by the appeals boards:

"I admit I was illegally parked, but I was only gone a few minutes."
"I knew it was a no-parking zone, but cars park there all the time and never get ticketed."
"I was using my personal car for university business." (This defense is often used for parking at loading docks or other restricted areas.)
"I didn't know I couldn't park there."
"I was ill and had to use the restroom."

How to submit an appeal

If you believe your parking citation was issued in error, you may submit an appeal using the following guidelines either online with a UT EID, or by email:

Time limit — You must make your appeal within 12 calendar days of the date the citation was issued. After 12 days, you lose your right to appeal.
Required information — include all of the following information with your appeal:
- Name
- UT EID (if applicable) — a SSN is not required for making an appeal. Never provide your SSN.
- Permanent address
- Email address
- Daytime phone number
- Citation number
- A copy of the actual citation unless you are appealing online or via e-mail
- Vehicle plate number including state
- University status (i.e. faculty, student, staff, visitor, etc.)
- Permit number (for permit holders)
- Reason for appeal
- Request for an in-person appeal, if desired

What happens after an appeal is submitted

All parking ticket appeals are reviewed by the appeals officer. When PTS receives your appeal, the appeals officer will:

Read the appeal and review the information on the ticket
Review the Parking and Traffic Rules and Regulations that are relevant to the appeal
Review other information, such as area maps or digital photographs of signs in the area
Make a decision on the appeal

The decision of the appeals officer is based on the type of violation, any previous tickets, area signage, existing parking permit, and your reason for appeal.

What the appeals officer can decide

The appeals officer makes one of the following decisions after review:

Reduced means that the amount of the fine is reduced. Payment of the reduced fine is still required.
Warning means the appeal was granted. The ticket is reduced to a warning and the fine is waived.
Voided means that the ticket issued was not valid.
Denied means that your ticket has been upheld. You must pay the fine of the original ticket.

Disagreement with an appeal

If you do not agree with the decision of the appeals officer, you may make a final appeal to the appeals panel made up of faculty, staff, and students.

To appeal at this level, you must:

Pay the fine. This becomes bond until the appeals panel makes a decision.
Re-submit the appeal to PTS in writing, via email to appeals@www.utexas.edu, or in person at the PTS main office within 12 calendar days of the appeals officer's decision, including all of the required information.

The appeals panel may reduce the fine, excuse the fine, or uphold the original decision.

Where to submit an appeal

E-mail: appeals@www.utexas.edu
Fax: (512) 232-9405
Mail:
PTS Appeals
P.O. Box 7546
Austin, TX 78713-7546
or Campus Mail D3000
Drop it off at our office:
PTS Cashier Office
Trinity Garage (TRG)
1815 Trinity St.
Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. (except on official university holidays)