I lost my traffic citation - What do I do?

I have a question regarding my traffic citation - Who do I ask?

How can I contest a parking violation?

I lost my parking citation - What do I do?

How can I get my car out of impound?

How can I find out if my vehicle has been towed?

How can I report an abandoned vehicle?

What can be done about illegally parked vehicles, such as those blocking a driveway?

What are the top five traffic violations that cause traffic collisions?

What should I do if I’ve been involved in a traffic accident?

What are the reporting requirements if I’ve been involved in a traffic accident?

How can I make a traffic accident report?

How can I obtain a copy of a traffic report?

Central Traffic Division

Valley Traffic Division

How can I contest a traffic citation?

If you lost your traffic citation, you need to contact the courts for information to resolve your ticket. You can obtain court information by visiting the Los Angeles Superior Court Traffic Violation Information website.

I have a question regarding my traffic citation - Who do I ask?
If you have any question regarding your traffic citation, you need to contact the Los Angeles Superior Courts. The Los Angeles Police Department is not authorized to supply information regarding the disposition or future outcome of any citation.

How can I contest a parking violation?
A person can contest a parking violation by calling the Parking Violation Bureau, Department of Transportation, at 213-623-6533. A recorded phone message provides concise instructions on how to contest the parking citation. All of the recorded instructions must be followed exactly, and within the allotted time period, otherwise, the application for a hearing will be forfeited. There is additional information online at http://www.lacity-parking.org/laopm/1_800.htm.

I lost my parking violation - What do I do?
Attached to your parking violation is an envelope to mail your parking violation. If you have lost your parking violation, you need to contact the Parking Violation Bureau, Department of Transportation. See below for a picture of the top left portion of the parking violation envelope for information.

There is additional information online at http://www.lacity-parking.org/laopm/1_800.htm.

How can I get my car out of impound?
If a person’s vehicle is impounded under a 30-day hold, they must wait until the 30-day period is over prior to requesting a release. After the 30-day period has passed, the registered owner must go to the Area auto detectives to obtain a release for the vehicle (releases are only given to the registered owner/s). If the registered owner does not have a valid California driver’s license, he/she must bring along a person who possesses a valid California driver’s license.

If a person’s vehicle is impounded as a vehicle forfeiture, and the vehicle is owned by more than one person, the other owner (owner from whom the vehicle was not taken) should refer to the information contained in the Notice of Forfeiture Letter that they will receive by certified mail, to obtain a release.

How can I find out if my vehicle has been towed?
A person may call his or her local police station and give the vehicle license plate number to the desk officer. The desk officer will run the status of the vehicle and will inform the person whether or not their vehicle has been impounded.

How can I report an abandoned vehicle?
A person may call his or her local police station or the Parking Violations Bureau, Department of Transportation, at 1-800-ABANDON, to report an abandoned vehicle. An officer from the Parking Violations Bureau will be dispatched and will issue a parking citation. The officer will return after a 72-hour period. If the vehicle has not been moved, the officer will impound the vehicle. There is additional information online at http://www.lacity-parking.org/laopm/1_800.htm.

What can be done about illegally parked vehicles, such as those blocking a driveway?
Contact the Parking Violations Bureau, Department of Transportation, at 213-485-4184 or 818-756-9418, and an officer will be dispatched. If the person who reported the illegally parked vehicle lives at the location, goes out to meet the officer, and explains to them that he or she lives at the location and cannot leave the driveway due to its being blocked, the officer can impound the vehicle. There is additional information online at http://www.lacity-parking.org/laopm/1_800.htm.

What are the top five traffic violations that cause traffic collisions?

The five top traffic violations which cause traffic collisions:

What should I do if I’ve been involved in a traffic collision?
A person should first ensure that no one is injured. If no one is injured, all parties (drivers) should exchange information: driver’s license numbers (if in possession, or known), vehicle license numbers, names, addresses, and phone numbers of all drivers (passengers if possible), and the names of the insurance companies of the drivers involved. The involved persons should also write down the location where the traffic collision occurred (utilizing cross street names or addresses and street names), and the time it occurred.

What are the reporting requirements if I’ve been involved in a traffic collision?
A traffic collision report will be taken by the LAPD when one of the following reporting criteria is met:

• A person involved in the traffic collision has been injured (complaining of pain is considered an injury) or dies.
• One of the drivers is under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• One of the drivers has fled the location without stopping to exchange information or check on the welfare of the other parties involved.
• City property is involved (City vehicle, light post, signal light, etc.).

How do I make a traffic collision report?
It is the policy of the Los Angeles Police Department to complete a traffic collision report under the following circumstances:

• The traffic collision occurred within the City of Los Angeles.
• A person involved in the traffic collision has been injured (complaining of pain is considered an injury) or dies.
• One of the drivers is under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• One of the drivers has fled the location without stopping to exchange information or check on the welfare of the other parties involved.
• City property is involved (City vehicle, light post, signal post, etc.)

If any of the above conditions is met at the scene of a traffic collision, the Los Angeles Police Department should be notified in one of the following manners:

911 (in case of an emergency)
Non-Emergency Information Line
877-ASK-LAPD
Toll Free (1-877-275-5273)

In addition to filing a traffic collision report with the Los Angeles Police Department, it may also be necessary to file other Department of Motor Vehicles Forms. Visit the Department of Motor Vehicles web page for more information on state reporting requirements for traffic collisions.

Any person involved in a traffic collision, that meets the criteria, can go to his/her local police station to make a report. The report should be made as soon as possible. The person reporting the collision needs to bring along the following information:

• The time and location (street address/cross streets) where the collision occurred.
• The license plate number of the vehicle he or she was driving when they were involved in the traffic collision.
• Driver’s license
• Insurance information (name of the insurance company and the policy number).
• The names, addresses, and phone numbers of all passengers in their vehicle
• If known, the license plate numbers, names, addresses, and phone numbers of all other involved drivers and passengers.

How can I obtain a copy of a traffic report?
To obtain a copy of a traffic report, you must mail your request to Records & Identification Division. Traffic reports can be released to authorized persons such as the victim, the victim’s representative, or as provided in Section 20012 of the Vehicle Code.

To obtain a copy of a traffic report, please provide:
A check or money order payable to LAPD in the amount of $23.00. This is a non-refundable administrative fee charged to cover the cost of the records search, and will not be refunded even if it is determined that no report exists.

• The location and the party(ies) involved in the collision, if known
• The insurance policy number if the requestor is an insurance company
• A release from an involved party if the request is from an attorney
• The type of report - traffic
• The date and location of occurrence
• A report (DR) number, if known
• The vehicle license number, when applicable

Mail to:

Los Angeles Police Department

Records and Identification Division

Document Processing Unit

P.O. Box 30158

Los Angeles, CA 90030