Seattle parking ticket fines
An expired meter costs $65 in Seattle and parking at a fire hydrant costs $69. Parking tickets go to the city, not traffic court.
Expired meter$65
Fire hydrant$69
Disabled space$250
Most expensive$250marked disabled space with an invalid placard
What does each parking ticket cost in Seattle?
The steepest Seattle parking ticket is marked disabled space with an invalid placard at $250, 3.8 times the $65 for an expired meter. The cheapest is parked over 72 hours at $65.
| Ticket | Fine |
|---|---|
| Parking meter or pay station violationListed as pay to park violation | $65[48] |
| Overtime parking | $65[48] |
| Parking at posted restricted locationsListed as sign posted locations | $69[48] |
| Tow-away zone | $69[48] |
| Fire hydrant | $69[48] |
| Double parking | $69[48] |
| Marked disabled space with an invalid placard | $250[48] |
| Bus zone | $69[48] |
| Crosswalk | $69[48] |
| Restricted parking zoneFine for parking in a restricted parking zone without a permit | $78[48] |
| Expired or improper plates | $69[48] |
| Blocking a driveway or alley entrance | $69[48] |
| Parked over 72 hours | $65[48] |
| Sidewalk | $69[48] |
| Commercial load zone | $78[48] |
How do you pay or fight a Seattle parking ticket?
Who handles it
Seattle Municipal Court[45]
Pay a Seattle parking ticket online[45]
How to contest it
Ask for a hearing within 30 days if the ticket was placed on your car or handed to you, or within 33 days if it was mailed to you. You can use the online hearing request form or the back of the ticket.[47]
If you pay late
If you do not respond to the ticket, the court adds a late fee, you lose your right to a hearing, and the ticket may go to collections.[46] (The court does not publish the late fee amount online.)
How do Seattle parking fines compare with other big cities?
At $65, the Seattle expired meter fine is number 4 of 15 among the big cities listed here.
| City | Expired meter | Fire hydrant |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | $65 | $69 |
| New York, NY | $35–$65 | $115 |
| Chicago, IL | $50–$70 | $150 |
| Houston, TX | $30 | $105 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $26–$36 | $76 |
| San Diego, CA | $42.5 | $104.5 |
| Dallas, TX | $90 | Not published |
| Jacksonville, FL | $15 | $25 |
| Fort Worth, TX | $40 | $105 |
| Columbus, OH | $70 | $90 |
| Charlotte, NC | $25 | Not published |
| Indianapolis, IN | $20 | $75 |
| San Francisco, CA | $107–$108 | $108 |
| Denver, CO | $35 | $35 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $15–$24 | Not published |
Got a speeding or other moving ticket in Seattle?
Moving violations go to the courts, not the parking agency, and they can bring points and higher insurance. See the local court's fines. Washington ticket rules. Do parking tickets affect your license?
What else do people ask?
How much is a parking ticket in Seattle?
It depends on the violation. An expired meter is $65. Parking at a fire hydrant is $69. The most expensive common ticket is marked disabled space with an invalid placard at $250.
What happens if I pay a Seattle parking ticket late?
If you do not respond to the ticket, the court adds a late fee, you lose your right to a hearing, and the ticket may go to collections.
How do I fight a Seattle parking ticket?
Ask for a hearing within 30 days if the ticket was placed on your car or handed to you, or within 33 days if it was mailed to you. You can use the online hearing request form or the back of the ticket.
Does a parking ticket add points to my license?
No. A parking ticket is not a moving violation, so it adds no points and does not show on the driving record insurers check. Unpaid tickets can still lead to holds or a boot.
Sources (4)
- Pay My Ticket, Seattle Municipal Court.
- Ticket Response Options, Seattle Municipal Court.
- Dispute My Ticket, Seattle Municipal Court.
- SMCLIR 6.2(b) Monetary Penalty Schedule for Selected Parking Infractions, Seattle Municipal Court.