Parking Violations

Paying Your Citation – General Information

Important Information Regarding Booted or Towed Vehicles and Vehicle Registration Releases
If your vehicle is currently booted, has been towed or has vehicle registration hold, you must make payment for all outstanding citations in cash only at City Hall, 200 E. University Ave., third floor. 

This service is for City of Gainesville issued parking citations only, and does not apply to other City of Gainesville citations or for parking citations issued by the University of Florida or other law enforcement agencies. 

Failure to respond within 30 calendar days will result in a waiver of your rights to contest the citation, additional costs as outlined below and may result in the immobilization or impoundment of the vehicle together with associated charges and expenses:

  • Weekends and holidays are included in the 30 calendar days.
  • Click here to contest your citation.  An affidavit of explanation must be filed within 7 calendar days from the date of the citation.  A judicial hearing must be filed within 30 calendar days from the date of the citation.
  • After 30 calendar days, an additional $16 late fee will be added to all unpaid and partially paid citations, per ordinance.

When the payment is processed, records at the City of Gainesville and the Department of Motor Vehicles will be updated accordingly and the citations will be marked as paid.

  • Payments for booted or towed vehicles must be in cash at City Hall, 200 E. University Ave., third floor.
  • If your car was booted or towed or if your tag has a hold on it for unpaid citations, please click here.

Payment Options

Pay online

  • Computer generated tickets are generally available online within 15 minutes.  
  • Hand written tickets on yellow paper may not be available to view online for up to three business days.  If the citation does not show up online, send an email to jacksonrn@gainesvillefl.gov and advise that the citation is not showing online.
  • Major credit cards are the only payment accepted online.
  • Payment for boot releases, tow releases and tag holds due to unpaid citations may not be paid online. Any such payments will be cancelled and payment will be required as outlined below.

Pay in Person

Address:

City Hall, 200 E. University Ave., third floor. 

Office Hours:

Mon - Fri
8 a.m.-5 p.m.  

Accepted forms of payment

Cash or by check, VISA  or MasterCard

Pay by Mail

Mail check or money order to:

PO Box 490, Station 45

Gainesville, FL 32627

Make check or money order payable to CITY OF GAINESVILLE.


 

Contest Your Citation

The City of Gainesville Code of Ordinances provides for waiving of the fee for the following reasons only: 

  • Malfunctioning meter; 
  • Valid and verifiable emergencies; 
  • Government employees on verified official business (when initially legally parked); 
  • City volunteers detained due to verified volunteer duties; and 
  • Error in issuance of citation when affidavit is properly filed. 

There are two ways to contest your citation: 

Affidavit of Explanation

  • Must be filed within the first seven days from the date of the citation. 
  • There is no fee for contesting a citation by filing an affidavit of explanation. 
  • Forms and instructions are available on the Police Department's website and at the Police Administration Building, 545 NW Eighth Ave. 
  • Form must be submitted within 7 calendar days of issuance of the citation. The 7 day response period includes weekends and holidays. Failure to respond within 7 calendar days of the date of the citation will result in a waiver of your rights to file an affidavit of explanation contesting the violation.  

 

Judicial Hearing

  • Must be filed within the first 30 calendar days from the date of the citation 
  • There is a non-prevailing court fee assessed if you the Court finds you guilty. 
  • Forms and instructions are available on the Police Department's website and at the Police Administration Building, 545 NW Eighth Ave. 
  • Form must be submitted within 30 calendar days of issuance of the citation. The 30 day response period includes weekends and holidays. Failure to respond within 30 calendar days of the date of the citation will result in a waiver of your rights to contest the citation and a delinquency penalty will be assessed. 

 

 

For questions regarding citations and payments, please email citybc@gainesvillefl.gov or call 352-334-5025. For questions about contesting a parking citation, please email jacksonrn@gainesvillefl.gov

Releases of Boots, Tows and Held Tags

  • Payment for any of these releases that are made using the online portal will be cancelled due to a large number of returned items. The City of Gainesville is not responsible for the time it takes for the cancelled transaction to be credited to your account.
  • Payment for boot releases must be made within 24 hours of boot placement and must be made in cash at City Hall, 200 E. University Ave., third floor during office hours. There are no boot releases outside of these office hours.
  • Payment for tow releases must be made in cash at City Hall, 200 E. University Ave., third floor during office hours.  There are no tow releases outside of these office hours.
  • The following documents must be submitted at the time of payment to complete the tow release:
    • Copy of the current vehicle registration
    • Copy of the vehicle owner’s driver license
    • Copy of the current vehicle insurance
    • Tow release affidavit if the person picking up the vehicle is not the registered owner
    • Copy of the driver license of the person picking up the vehicle
  • Payment to release a hold on your tag for unpaid citations must be made in cash at City Hall, 200 E. University Avenue, third floor during office hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is my citation number or "tag/license and state"?

Your citation number is the first line on your parking citation followed by state and license one below the other.

What if no match is found with my citation number or my tag and state?

  • Verify your parking citation is issued by the City of Gainesville.
  • Verify your citation number is correct. Verify your tag and state are correct from your parking citation.
  • Warning citations will not appear online.
  • If the citation is yellow and hand-written, send an email to jacksonrn@gainesvillefl.gov to advise the citation is not showing.
  • If the citation is white and computer printed, send an email to cogparking@gainesvillefl.gov to advise the citation is not showing.

What if I do not know my citation number or "tag and state"?

You will need to contact the Finance Department at 352-334-5025. They will provide you with your parking citation number and tag and state.

Can I pay parking citations issued by UF?

No. we only accept payments for parking citations issued by the City of Gainesville.

What credit cards may I use?

You may use Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express.

When will my credit card or checking account be charged?

In most cases your credit card or checking account will be charged on the date of the transaction. Occasionally the charge may appear on the next business day. 

When will the payment be posted to my parking citation?

Your payment will be applied to your parking citation as soon as you've submitted your payment on our website.

Will I get a receipt?

You may print or email the receipt. Click on the hyperlink under "view receipt" after payment.

Is the parking citation payment website secure?

Yes. The city does not collect any banking information. The online payment system collects all banking information and provides industry-leading security.

Who do I contact if I have questions regarding my payment?

Should you have questions regarding charges to your account or if you feel you have made a payment in error and wish to inquire about a refund, please contact the Parking Violations Office at 352-334-5025.  Office hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Mon., Tues., Thurs. and Fri. and from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Wed. 


Who do I contact I have a problem?

If you have a question that is not answered in this FAQ section, please email citybc@gainesvillefl.gov or call 352-334-5025 during office hours. For questions about contesting a parking citation, please email jacksonrn@gainesvillefl.gov.