Getting a parking ticket is easy in a large and lively city like Dallas, whose traffic is one of the worst in the country. Plan on moving to this metropolis or just visiting? Before you head to Dallas, learn about city parking regulations and Dallas parking tickets! Parking Access will help you gain a better understanding of street parking and teach you how to avoid parking infractions. If you already got a fine, rest easy—we will take you through the process of disputing Dallas parking tickets successfully!
You can use our tips to contest parking citations in other major cities, including New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Denver!
Dallas Street Parking in a Nutshell
Locating an available on-street parking spot in downtown Dallas shouldn’t be an issue—there are plenty of metered parking spaces! The meters are enforced from 7 AM to 6 PM daily, and the time limit is 2 to 4 hours. The hourly parking rate depends on the location, but the price varies between $0.50 and $2.00 per hour. If you’re going to Deep Ellum, you’ll probably find a free parking space even before 6 PM. Other neighborhoods offer free spots after 6 PM and on weekends.
Avoid Dallas Parking Tickets
To successfully evade getting a Dallas parking fine, you must follow the rules and keep an eye out for parking signs. The state law prohibits the following:
- Parking too close to intersections and corners
- Parking in fire lanes
- Blocking fire hydrants
- Blocking driveways, sidewalks, or crosswalks
- Parking on residential streets for more than 48 consecutive hours
Before you leave the vehicle, make sure it’s parked properly and check the sign. Also, if you leave the car in a disabled parking spot, make sure your permit is clearly visible.
Public Transportation
You can avoid parking tickets by completely avoid parking—use public transit! The DART allows you to travel around the city conveniently and affordably. A single-ride fare is $2.50, and a one-day pass is $6, which is significantly lower than the cost of a Dallas parking fine.
Got a Parking Fine? See If You Can Contest It
Don’t pay the ticket right away—it may be invalid! People have got millions of dollars in compensation for wrongly issued parking citations, and you can be one of them. The list below contains all the reasons your Dallas parking ticket could be invalid:
- Illegible handwriting
- Wrong issuance date, time, or county
- Inaccurate or missing vehicle information (for example, wrong license plate number, vehicle color, manufacturer, etc.)
- Incorrect, faded, or not visible parking sign
- Defective parking meter
- Not specified whether you were parked in front of or opposite the address in question
- You aren’t the vehicle’s owner
- Your car was stolen
Wrongly issued Dallas parking tickets are worth fighting, but you’re going to prove your innocence. Discover how to do it properly and avoid extra charges!
How To Dispute a Dallas Parking Ticket
To fight a parking fine successfully, you must take several steps. Here’s what you have to do:
- Don’t withdraw from the scene straight away. Grab the chance to collect some evidence—take a picture of your vehicle or the sign if it doesn’t display the correct information.
- Put off the payment. You cannot contest Dallas parking tickets if you paid them.
- Request a pre-trial hearing within 21 days of the ticket issuance date. You can do that online, in person, or by mail. If you choose the last option, send the request to Dallas Municipal Court, 2014 Main St. Dallas, TX 75201.
- Attend the hearing. Prepare to discuss available options with the prosecutor to resolve the case, and don’t forget to bring evidence if you have any.
There is an easy way to fight your Dallas parking ticket—use DoNotPay, the world’s first robot lawyer. Reply to several questions to provide all the info and add the picture of your ticket. After that, DoNotPay will draft a script for you to use in court.
Pay Your Dallas Parking Fine
If you don’t want to go through the tiring process, or your appeal is rejected, you have several ways to pay the ticket:
- Online—follow the listed directions
- By phone—call 866-247-1951
- By mail—the address is on the payment coupon included with your ticket
- In person—head to Oak Cliff Municipal Center, Room 100
The city accepts payment in cash, check, money orders, and major credit cards.
Overall
An average parking fine in Dallas is $45. Save your money by following our tips on avoiding parking tickets! Be careful and pay attention to the signs or park in any city parking lot or garage. If you already got a Dallas parking ticket and believe it’s wrongly issued, follow all the steps we listed to dispute your ticket successfully!