| FAQ - Parking & Traffic |
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| Why are parking ticket fines sent to an address in Berkeley? |
| We contract with a private company that handles all of the processing for parking citations. We found that it was much more cost effective to contract out then to manage it internally. The company maintains the computerized database and handles all of the correspondence. |
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| How can I protest a parking citation? |
| The private contractor mentioned above handles all correspondence regarding parking citations. Your citation includes the contractor's address as well as details on how to protest your citation. Your response should be in writing so that it can be reviewed by someone on our staff. If the facts justify dismissal, you will be notified. If there are sufficient grounds to continue, you will be given the opportunity to attend a hearing with the City Attorney's office. If the citation is upheld, you may then appeal to the County Municipal Court. |
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| What can I do about cars and trucks parked in front of my house? |
| The Santa Clara Municipal Code states that vehicles may not be parked on the street in excess of 72 hours. We rely on calls from our citizens to alert us to these types of vehicles. When we are notified, we respond and determine whether the vehicle is abandoned or just illegally parked. Once we make that determination, we mark the vehicle and recheck it in 72 hours. If the vehicle is still there when we return, it will be cited. We will then attempt to locate the owner. |
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| How does traffic radar work? |
| Simply speaking, a radar device emits a radio signal that bounces off of the approaching vehicle and returns to the device, determining the speed of the vehicle. This information is then displayed in miles-per-hour to the officer. The radar "guns" have built-in calibrating devices to ensure their accuracy, and they are tested each day they are used. |
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| Can I pay my parking ticket by credit card or over the internet? |
| Yes, there are several options for paying parking tickets. You can find out what these are by calling (800) 281-7275. |
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| My car was towed. How do I get it back? |
| If the police towed your car you must first obtain a release from the Police Department. You will be told where your car is stored and given directions if you need them. |
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| There may be a fee owed to the storage yard. We will release vehicles at any hour. There is usually an extra “gate fee” for after hours releases, so if you can pick your vehicle up during normal business hours, you may be better off. |
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| How can I get the radar trailer on our street? |
| The radar trailer is a very popular tool to help combat speeding vehicles. As a vehicle approaches, the vehicle speed is displayed right next to the posted speed limit. The purpose of this trailer is to educate drivers and make them aware of their speed. We hope this will have a long-term impact on their driving. Due to its popularity, we receive many requests for its use. We try to comply with each request as soon as possible. |
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| If you would like to request the radar trailer be placed on your street, call (408) 615-4761 and ask to speak with the Traffic Sergeant. We do request that you provide some feedback after the trailer has been placed on your street. Please call and let the Traffic Sergeant know if the trailer had a positive impact on speeding. |
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| How do I make a non-emergency complaint such as noise or abandoned vehicles on my street? |
| Any complaint that requires a police officer to respond should be telephoned in to (408) 615-5580. Only call 911 in emergency situations. |
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