How to Fight a Parking Ticket in Gunnison, CO

The no-parking sign was absent, missing from the block, obstructed by a tree or another sign, or so faded as to be illegible at the time of the violation.

Legal basis:

A motorist cannot be held responsible for violating a regulation that was not properly posted. Signage must be installed and maintained according to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).

Required evidence:

• Photograph of the sign (or lack thereof) taken on or near the violation date
• Wide-angle photo showing the full block face
• Timestamp metadata from the photo

The parking meter was visibly broken, displayed an error, accepted payment but failed to register it, or was not functioning at the time the vehicle was parked.

Legal basis:

Vehicle operators are not required to seek alternative parking when a meter malfunctions. The city bears responsibility for maintaining meter equipment.

Required evidence:

• Photograph of the meter display showing the error or malfunction
• Receipt or bank statement showing payment attempt if applicable
• Timestamp from the photograph

Two or more signs on the block face or pole provided contradictory parking rules, making it impossible to determine the lawful parking restriction.

Legal basis:

Contradictory signs create an ambiguity that must be resolved in the motorist's favor. Enforcement cannot stand when the regulation is unclear.

Required evidence:

• Photograph clearly showing both conflicting signs in the same frame
• Photograph showing the distance between the signs

The ticket contains a material error in the vehicle description — wrong license plate number, incorrect state, wrong vehicle make, model, or color.

Legal basis:

A ticket with a materially incorrect vehicle description is legally defective. The issuing officer must accurately identify the vehicle for the citation to be valid.

Required evidence:

• Copy of vehicle registration showing correct plate and description
• Photograph of the vehicle's actual license plate

The vehicle was parked in violation because of an unforeseen medical emergency affecting the driver or a passenger that required immediate attention.

Legal basis:

Most municipal codes recognize medical necessity as an affirmative defense to a parking violation. The emergency must be genuine and documented.

Required evidence:

• Hospital or emergency room discharge paperwork showing date and time
• Doctor's note or urgent care visit documentation
• Any emergency services record

The parking restriction was not properly posted under CRS § 42-4-110, or the penalty assessment notice omitted required information under CRS § 42-4-1707 or local ordinance.

Legal basis:

CRS § 42-4-110 requires traffic control devices to conform to the MUTCD before restrictions are enforceable. CRS § 42-4-1707 governs required content for penalty assessment notices; material defects may support dismissal.

Required evidence:

• Photograph of the sign or its absence at the cited location
• Copy of the penalty assessment notice showing the deficiency

Gunnison experiences heavy winter snowfall and declares snow route parking bans. If cited during a snow event, challenge whether the City provided adequate advance public notice (e.g., KGUC radio, city website, social media) and whether snow route signs were clearly posted and legible at the cited location before enforcement began.

Legal basis:

CRS § 42-4-110 and local ordinance require adequate public notice before a snow route parking ban is enforceable. Insufficient or untimely notice, or signage obscured by snow, may render the citation unenforceable.

Required evidence:

• Official City snow route declaration or announcement for the violation date
• Photograph of the cited street showing posted snow route signage and its condition (legibility, snow coverage)
• Timestamp metadata from the photograph

Western Colorado University events significantly increase parking demand in Gunnison. If the violation occurred during a university event when normal alternative parking was unavailable and no adequate alternative was offered or communicated, this context may support a mitigation argument, particularly if signage was unclear about event-period restrictions.

Legal basis:

While not a complete legal defense, demonstrating that enforcement occurred during an abnormal high-demand event with inadequate alternative parking notice can support a mitigation request or good-faith appeal argument before the hearing officer.

Required evidence:

• Documentation of the university event occurring on the violation date (game schedule, event calendar)
• Photographs showing parking conditions in the area at the time
• Copy of the citation and any parking restriction signs applicable at the cited location