The University of Washington: Facilities Services

Parking Citations & Appeals

Parking Citations & Appeals

The Parking and Traffic Rules and Fees for UW Seattle are under WAC 478-116.

Paying a Parking Citation

You can pay a parking citation online, or pay by check or money order payable to “University of Washington.” Do not send cash through the mail. Payment by phone is not available. Send payments to:

Commuter Services
Sales and Administration Box 351105
3901 University Way
Seattle, WA 98105-6613

If mailed, the postmark date is used as the date a payment is recorded by Commuter Services. In person payments are accepted during Commuter Services business hours of 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. The office is closed Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays. Credit Card payments (Visa, MasterCard) are also accepted at the Enforcement Office but must be made in person, no phone-in payments please.

Appealing a Violation Citation

You can download a Parking Citation Petition Form, or submit the form online.

  • Petitions sent through US Mail or by Fax transmission (206) 616-9456, must be respectively postmarked or received in the Enforcement Office no later than 11:59 pm of the 20th day.
  • Only signed forms (by mail or hand delivery) or signed Fax transmission copies are accepted. E-mail submissions are not accepted as a signature is required on the valid petition.
  • Requests for in-person hearings must be made through the Citation Hearing Office by calling 206-543-3205 or visiting the office during business hours. In-person hearings are scheduled upon availability.
  • Forms can be picked up in the Parking Enforcement Office during business hours
  • There is a 21 day application period after the Response Date has passed which you can submit a “Good Cause” statement along with your petition to apply for late acceptance. A Hearing Officer will review your Good Cause statement and determine whether the late petition is accepted. Late Petitions which have been denied will receive a written notification.
  • Please call the Parking Enforcement office (206-543-9008) for the status of your Petition. Once received, a petition is entered into our data base and then processed through the Citation Hearing Office.
  • Please explain your basis for appeal with as much detail as possible.
  • Please include with your petition any originals of documents or evidence such as Parking Permits, Photographs, maps, letters or drawings
  • Please keep a copy of the entire petition and any evidence for your records. Parking Enforcement uses the “postmark” or fax transmittal date/time as the received date.
  • Request in-person hearings as soon as possible after your citation date.

Vehicle Impoundment

A vehicle found on University of Washington property can be impounded in cases of:

  • Failure to pay fines, WAC 478-116-401
  • Public Safety concerns, WAC 478-116-411
  • Vehicle abandonment, WAC 478-116-421
  • Forged Permits, WAC-478-116-184
  • Obstructing Traffic, WAC-478-116-245
  • Vehicle Reported Stolen, WAC 478-116-411
  • Vehicle Constitutes Evidence/Contains Evidence, WAC 478-116-411

Contact the UW Police Department at 206-543-9331 and/or Commuter Services at 206-543-9008 (7:30 am - 5:00 pm) to verify if your vehicle has been towed.

Anyone whose vehicle has been impounded for failure to pay parking fines must redeem their vehicle at the Parking Enforcement Office during normal Business Hours or at the UW Police Department after hours, weekends and holidays. Impounded vehicles are released only to the Registered Owner. If you are not the Registered Owner, you must provide the Police Department with a notarized statement from the Registered Owner authorizing you to take possession of the vehicle from the Police Department. A valid driver’s license is required.

The extension of credit through the practice of pay agreements or promissory notes for outstanding Parking Fines and towing fees has been discontinued. All applicable fines and towing charges must be paid prior to redemption of an impounded vehicle.

If your vehicle has been impounded you have the right to contest the validity of impoundment or the amount of towing and storage charges within 20 days of the impoundment.

Other Information

Anytime you contact the Parking Enforcement Office, please have your license plate or citation number available. All citations include the license plate number and a designated citation number on the ticket.

Parking Violation Citations that have not been paid or appealed by the response date are placed in default. Once in default, a late penalty of $25.00 is accessed, the vehicle becomes subject to impoundment at the registered owners expense when found on campus property; the registered owner becomes subject to action by a collection agency, and campus parking permits and/or permit applications are subject to recall or denial.

Parking Citations are contested through written Parking Citation Petitions or in-person hearings. Completed Petitions must be received in the Parking Enforcement Office and in-person hearings scheduled for a hearing date occurring within the 20 day response period.