How to Fight a Parking Ticket in Los Altos, CA

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 CVC § 21400, or the notice of parking violation omitted required information under CVC § 40202 or local ordinance.

Legal basis:

CVC § 21400 requires official traffic control devices to conform to Caltrans standards before restrictions are enforceable. CVC § 40202 specifies mandatory content for parking notices; material omissions may warrant dismissal.

Required evidence:

• Photograph of the sign or its absence at the cited location
• Copy of the notice of parking violation showing missing required fields

Los Altos enforces posted street sweeping schedules. If the citation was issued for street sweeping, challenge whether the posted sign accurately reflected the sweeping schedule in effect on the citation date, or whether the schedule was recently changed without updated signage.

Legal basis:

Under CVC § 22507.6, street sweeping restrictions are enforceable only when signs are properly posted with the current schedule. A mismatch between the posted sign and the actual enforcement schedule may render the citation invalid.

Required evidence:

• Photograph of the street sweeping sign at the cited location
• City street sweeping schedule showing the date in question
• Evidence of any recent schedule change at that location