Answers to the most asked questions people have concerning how to appeal parking citations they felt were unwarranted.
Parking violations are not criminal offenses in Anchorage. You may appeal your citation by filing an AP Form, Request for Court Hearing on Parking Citation, within thirty (30) days of the issue date of the citation. The form may be obtained from this website, picked up in person at Anchorage Parking, or mailed or faxed to you.
Request for Court Hearing on Parking Citation Form
If your specific questions are not covered in this brochure, please feel free to contact us for more answers and assistance.
For information:
Tel. (907) 276-7275
Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Mail correspondence to:
Anchorage Parking
700 West 6th Avenue, Suite 206
Anchorage, AK 99501
Q: What kind of information do I need to put in my appeal?
A: Appeals must include the citation number, must state the reason for the appeal, must include either the original or a copy of the citation, and should include copies of any other pertinent information you wish to have considered (e.g. a copy of any police report, vehicle registration, handicapped permit, an original notarized sworn statement of an owner change, etc.) Lack of sufficient information will prolong the process.
Q: What if I miss the 30 day appeal deadline?
A: You forfeit your right to appeal. If there is a good reason [good cause is shown in legalese terms] for the lapse, you may send a letter stating the reason for the delay, not the appeal, to the Administrative Officer. Your letter should also include the citation number, your name, address, and contact phone number. The Administrative Officer will contact you by letter or phone with a decision on whether or not your appeal will be accepted.
Q: I live far away, can I still appeal?
A: Yes. Complete and return the Request form. Make note on the form of your desire to have a telephone hearing and be sure to include a phone number that will accept collect calls. You will receive a hearing notice with a court date annotated. On your hearing date, you must be at the phone number you give between 9:00 and 11:00 AM.
Q: I put a witness' name on my Request form. Why wasn't that considered?
A: By law, we may not consider information unless it is received prior to or during the hearing. It is therefore insufficient to simply list a witness name. You must provide the written witness' statement, police report, photographs, etc.
Q: How do I get and turn in a Request form?
A: The easiest way is to contact AP's Customer Service Office by phone (907) 276-7275 and ask for a form to appeal a citation. They will mail or FAX the form to you. You may also pick the form up in person from the Customer Service Office, 700 West 6th Ave, Suite 206, in Anchorage. The form and any pertinent information must be returned to AP at the address listed previously within 30 days of the issue date of the citation. If you are only returning the form, you may FAX it to (907) 279-5073.
Q: How will I know when my hearing is going to be and where it will be?
A: A notice will be sent to you approximately two weeks before the hearing. All hearings are held in the Boney Court building, 303 K Street. The court sets the time and date for parking citation hearings.
Q: What if I can't make it to the hearing - can it be rescheduled to some other day or time?
A: A hearing may be rescheduled if there is a valid reason and you contact the AP Scheduling Clerk before the hearing date. However, parking citation hearings are always on Tuesday beginning at 9:00 AM. If rescheduling is approved, you will be sent a new notice with a new date and time. Hearings will not be rescheduled more than once without a valid reason and Administrative Officer approval.
Q: How do I prepare for the hearing?
A: You have the legal obligation to show the citation was not validly issued, or that there is a legal excuse, or justification, as to why it should be dismissed. This means you must provide evidence that shows, as a whole, that the fact you are trying to prove is more probable than not.
Q: I can't afford the penalty. Can it be waived?
A: Citations may not be dismissed based on your inability to pay.
Q: My citation is wrong. Can I get it voided or dismissed without going through the appeal process?
A: No. You must submit all valid information to the AP. If you submit sufficient evidence, you may not have to go completely through the court hearing process, but all appeals must go through the appeal process.
Q: I'm not the registered owner of the vehicle, but I was using the vehicle and I want to appeal the citation. Can I do that?
A: Yes. If you are not the registered owner, you must submit an authorization form from the registered owner along with your appeal information.