Parking Ticket Payment Process
Payment for parking violations can be conducted online or in person at the City Clerk's Office, 400 E. Court Avenue Ste. 116, Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Methods of payment accepted are cash, check, Visa and MasterCard.
You can pay a parking ticket online or use the application to check to see if you owe for any parking tickets. All you need to check for outstanding tickets 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 60 – 90 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.
We also initiate collection of parking citations 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.
Vehicles Flagged for Towing are Found on City Scofflaw List
It is illegal to park a vehicle on any City property if that vehicle has accumulated four or more delinquent parking tickets. A ticket becomes delinquent when it is not paid within 30 days nor appealed within 7 days. Vehicles with four or more tickets are placed on a vehicle impound list (Tow List) with the Des Moines Police Department. If towed, all delinquent tickets must be paid, as well as the $20 preservation fee. The City Clerk’s Office provides releases to the registered owner of the vehicle Monday thru Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM with cash or Visa/MC being accepted. The Police Department 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 within 10 days of impoundment. This is only allowed for vehicles towed for illegal parking.
To receive a release of a towed vehicle between the hours of 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM visit the Police Records Section, located on the first floor of the Police Department, 25 East First Street, Des Moines, IA 50309.
Parking Ticket Appeal Process
You may appeal a parking ticket if you feel it is unwarranted. A parking ticket appeal must be submitted within seven days of issuance of ticket. To appeal a parking ticket, complete the online form submission or fill out the printable Parking Ticket Appeal form and return it to the Clerk's Office within 7 days of issuance.