Parking Ticket Payment Process
Payment for parking violations can be made online 24-hours a day using Visa or MasterCard or in person at the City Clerk's Office, 400 Robert D. Ray Drive, Monday thru Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM using cash, check, Visa and MasterCard.
You can search the online application for any outstanding parking tickets. All you need is your license plate number.
Parking Ticket Collection Process
A parking citation is forwarded to Professional Account Management, the collection agency for the City of Des Moines, for action once it becomes 120 days delinquent. They attempt collection through mailings and telephone calls. If unsuccessful, they report non-payment to various Credit Bureaus which can result in an adverse credit rating.
Collection of parking citations is also done through the State Income Tax Offset Program, administered by the Iowa Department of Revenue. Any person receiving a State of Iowa income tax refund, who has unpaid parking citations, is subject to having their refund delayed until the tickets are paid. If the tickets remain unpaid, the City must wait a required 15-day period before we will then deduct the amount owed from their refund. The State then withholds funds to cover the parking citations, issues payment to the City, and the citizen receives the remainder.
The City also holds renewal license plate registrations pending payment of outstanding parking citations.
Vehicles Flagged for Towing
It is illegal to park a vehicle with four or more delinquent parking tickets on any City property. A ticket becomes delinquent when it is not paid within 30 days nor appealed within 7 business days. Vehicles with four or more parking tickets are placed on a vehicle impound list with the Des Moines Police Department. If towed, all delinquent tickets must be paid, as well as a $20 preservation fee. The City Clerk’s Office, 400 Robert D. Ray Drive, provides releases to the registered owner of the vehicle Monday thru Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM with cash, Visa or MasterCard being accepted. The Police Department, 25 E. 1st Street, provides releases, Monday thru Friday, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, however, only cash is accepted at their window. Once the tickets are paid, the citizen is given a Vehicle Impound Release form to present to the towing company which allows them to retrieve their vehicle. Once all towing expenses are paid, the vehicle is released to the citizen.
If the vehicle owner feels the towing was not warranted, they may file for an Administrative Hearing at the City Clerk's Office, within 10 days of impoundment. This is only allowed for vehicles towed for illegal parking.
Parking Ticket Appeal Process
You may appeal a parking ticket if you feel it is unwarranted. A written parking ticket appeal must be received within seven days of issuance of the ticket. To appeal, complete the online parking ticket appeal form or appear in person at the Clerk's Office, 400 Robert D. Ray Drive, for the form.