The City of Minneapolis issues around 300,000 parking tickets each year, but these lower fees are pretty easy to get rid of if you think you’ve been awarded an unfair ticket, if you parked on a broken Minneapolis meter, or if you just want to pay out quickly.
While it is best to avoid getting a parking ticket entirely, you should pay your ticket immediately to the City of Minneapolis so that late cost fees are waived. If you plan to contest your unfair ticket or report a broken meter, you should do so as soon as possible as well, as penalties will begin to accrue after 21 calendar days.
When parking in Minneapolis, always pay attention to the parking signs located along the curb and be sure to set alarms if you are using an hourly meter so you don’t get a ticket for being a few minutes late.
How to avoid parking tickets
The main areas patrolled by parking lot enforcement officers are downtown Minneapolis, the warehouse district, downtown Minneapolis, around the Walker Art Center, next to the chain of lakes, and on the University of Minnesota campus. Additionally, Snow Emergencies tickets represent a large number of parking citations issued in the winter. Quieter neighborhoods, farthest from business districts, receive the least attention from parking enforcement officers.
Wherever you park, but especially if you plan to park in one of the areas that the parking control officers are targeting, keep in mind to park legally and watch the clock to make sure you get back to your car on time. At meter parking in busy areas of Minneapolis, tickets are issued regularly as soon as the time on the meter expires.
What to do if you receive a parking ticket
If you were illegally parked, you must pay for the ticket within 21 days to avoid late fees, and you can pay by mail, over the phone, in person at a courthouse, or online. Although you can contest the ticket, keep in mind that being a minute late to the meter or not being aware of parking restrictions are not acceptable excuses that will magically get you out of a ticket.
If you cannot pay the fine, you can see a hearing officer to arrange a payment plan. You must do this before the ticket expires in any of the four Hennepin County courthouses, including the downtown Minneapolis courthouse. The downtown Minneapolis courthouse sees walk-in and appointment-only cases, the other three courts see cases by appointment only.
If you believe that the ticket in question was unfairly delivered or that the parking meter was broken, you can contest the ticket by arranging an appointment with a hearing officer to discuss your case. Mistakes do occur, so if you really feel like you messed up, contesting a ticket could save you some money, if it doesn’t cost you time.
Disputed parking ticket and broken meters
You will need to see a hearing officer to discuss the case. Hearing officers are available at the downtown Minneapolis courthouse and at the three Hennepin County suburban courthouses at Brooklyn Center, Edina, and Minnetonka. The downtown Minneapolis courthouse sees walk-in and appointment-only cases, the other three courts see cases by appointment only.
Take the parking ticket, a photo ID, and any documentation you may have to support your case, as the hearing officer has the power to reduce the fine or cancel the citation if they agree with you.
If you park at a meter that you think is working and you still get a parking ticket, for example, the time on the meter may run out faster than it should, you can cancel the ticket. Report that the meter is broken, and if the meter needs to be repaired, your ticket will be canceled. You can call the Office of Parking Violations to check if the meter was broken and if so, cancel your ticket.
Do not park on a subway that you think is broken or marked as broken as you can still get a ticket. The City of Minneapolis asks that you call to report broken parking meters.
