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Appealing a parking ticket written on the NDSU
campus
Any person who feels that a
City of Fargo
parking ticket written on the NDSU campus
was issued in error, may contest the parking ticket by filling out an
NDSU notice of appeal form.
All persons receiving a citation have a right to appeal within five
days of the date of issuance of the parking ticket. To file an
appeal, complete and submit the form. The administrative review involves
no court appearance. The appeal will be reviewed by staff from the
Campus Parking Office and University Police. If the administrative
review is denied, you are obligated to pay the fine within the time
noted on the ticket. You will be notified by email if this appeal is
granted or denied. If you are
unable to access email, a phone response may be requested.
General Reasons That Violations Won't Be Dismissed
Below are some commonly listed reasons given for violating parking
regulations. While these reasons may seem valid to the violator, they do
not address City of Fargo Ordinances. These reasons generally will not
result in the violations being dismissed, or the violator being
successful on appeal.
Short errands
No
errand, no matter how short or how important to the driver (short of a
bona fide medical emergency), is an acceptable excuse for illegal
parking. A short errand is a very common excuse. It is not a valid
reason for illegal parking.
Late for business or personal appointment
Being late does not permit the driver the privilege of parking
illegally.
No other place to park
Other than being an invalid excuse, this, in fact, confirms the driver’s
liability. It is driver’s responsibility to locate legal parking.
"I didn't see the sign." or "I didn't understand the sign."
Drivers are required to look for signs when parking. This may mean
checking an entire lot or block from corner to corner. Drivers are also
required to abide by the message on the signs. Saying that you did not
see a sign preventing parking is not an acceptable excuse.
Only part of my car was illegally parked.
A violation is not based on a certain percentage of the vehicle being
illegally parked. If part of the vehicle extends into a restricted area,
the violation is the same as if the entire vehicle encroached.
"I left someone in the car."
"I left my parking lights on (or blinking)."
"I left a note on the car as to my whereabouts."
"I left the motor running."
Many
drivers seem to think that evidence of a short stay erases their
offense. It does not. The purpose of parking regulations is to restrict
vehicles from certain places. The presence of a passenger, a note or
blinking lights does not satisfy this purpose and does not constitute a
valid reason to dismiss a violation.
"It was only a few minutes."
This
explanation is one of the most common claims. Even if true, parking in a
prohibited area is still a violation.
"Nobody else got a ticket."
Sometimes this excuse is raised as discriminatory enforcement. The
officer may have had to leave the area before checking all the vehicles,
however, a parking citation stands on its own.
"Someone else had my car; I wasn't even driving it."
The registered owner has joint responsibility with the person
driving his or her car. Unless it can be shown by the registered owner
that the car was driven without permission, the registered owner, renter
or lessee is responsible for a parking citation.
Violation not enforced in
the past
This
normally is not the case, however, inadequate staffing or other
priorities may give rise to violations not being enforced
continually; however, apparent failure to enforce parking laws does not
constitute a valid excuse for illegal parking.
"I've done it for years." or "Everybody else does it."
This is never a valid excuse for illegally parking. Nobody should
be rewarded for getting away with prior violations.
Online Citation Appeal Form
Please click here to complete the Online Citation Appeal Form.
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