How do I report a parking complaint?
How you report a parking complaint depends on the type of complaint. If your parking complaint requires immediate attention, contact our dispatch center at 937-328-2560. An example of this would be if a vehicle is parked in such a manner that it is hazardous to traffic and/or the safety of others. If your parking complaint does not require immediate attention, please email your complaint to parking@springfieldohio.gov (preferred) or contact the parking division directly at 937-324-7717 (option 3).
Provide the following information with your complaint:
- Location,
- vehicle type,
- vehicle color,
- registration number, and
- contact phone number of complainant.
Why did I receive a parking citation?
You received a parking citation because a vehicle you own, or is still shown as being registered to you, was parked in violation of the City of Springfield Codified Ordinances. The specific reason you received the citation will be listed on the citation itself. Reviewing the City of Springfield Codified Ordinances, you will find more information detailing the violation. Search for the violation code listed on your parking citation. Below you will find the City of Springfield Codified Ordinances.
https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/springfield/latest/springfield_oh/0-0-0-3447
For more information, refer to “Most common reasons for parking citations and tow notices.”
Note: Parking citation disputes must be handled through Clark County Municipal Court. The PCA, issuing officer, or their supervisor will not void the citation or dispute citations with you over the phone.
I received a parking citation that I do not agree with. How do I dispute/contest it?
Contact the Clark County Municipal Court at 937-328-3713 to dispute a parking citation to schedule a hearing. Parking citations will not be voided by the parking control attendant, issuing officer, or their supervisor. Parking disputes must be handled through the court process. We understand that, at times, you may disagree with a parking citation. If so, please schedule a hearing to plead your case.
I received a tow notice on my vehicle. What now? What if I need more time to resolve the issue?
A tow notice was placed on your vehicle due to your vehicle being illegally parked and subject to impound. It will be either red or orange. You will find the words “Police Tow” written in large lettering. The reason for the notice will be listed on the tow notice itself. If you received a tow notice, simply resolve the issue listed on the tow notice. A PCA will follow up at some point in the future. Your vehicle may be impounded if the parking issue has not been resolved. Once you resolve the issue, you may remove the tow notice. Note: Removing the tow notice while ignoring the parking infraction will not prevent the impoundment of your vehicle.
For more information, refer to “Most common reasons for parking citations and tow notices.”
If you need more time to resolve the issue with your vehicle, email parking@springfieldohio.gov. You may also contact the parking division at 937-324-7717, using option 3.
Additional time may be granted at the PCA’s discretion.
My vehicle was impounded for a parking infraction. How do I retrieve it?
Maine’s Towing and Recovery
1717 E. Pleasant St. Springfield Oh. 45505
937-322-4618
The most common reasons for parking citations and tow notices
Maximum 48-hour parking – Vehicles parked on city streets must be moved every 48 hours. A complaint has likely come in to which we have responded and investigated. We have determined your vehicle is in violation and must be moved to a different location on the street or to your private driveway. If you have received a parking citation or tow notice related to this, please move your vehicle. Continue moving your vehicle every 48 hours if you park on the street.
Expired, fictitious plate and display of plate – Your vehicle is either displaying an expired plate, a plate that belongs to another vehicle, a plate absent the validation sticker, or no plate at all. You will need to renew your registration or put the correct plate/validation sticker on the vehicle. Vehicles cannot be parked on any city street or private property within open view to the public while displaying an expired license plate, unlawful license plate, or no license plate.
Trailers, vehicles of more than 1-ton capacity, motorhomes, campers, buses, semis, boats – No parking of trailers, vehicles of more than 1-ton capacity, motorhomes, campers, buses, semis, boats (hitched or unhitched) on city streets that surround residential zoning districts. Off street parking of any such vehicles shall comply with Springfield zoning code (Chapter 1116 Parking and Loading). On street regulations will have to comply with Chapter 1116.05.
Parking on sidewalks, yellow curbs, and street lawns—Vehicles are not permitted to be parked on a sidewalk, alongside a yellow curb, or on a street lawn. Please move your vehicle to a legal parking area.
Parking in fire lanes or in front of a fire hydrant – You are not permitted to park any vehicle in a fire lane or in front of a fire hydrant. Please move your vehicle.
Inoperable motor vehicles on private property – You are not permitted to park any vehicle on your private property if that vehicle is lacking major components, lacks required safety equipment, is unlicensed, or has a license expired for more than 30 days, apparently unsafe or hazardous, or damaged beyond economic repair. This applies if the vehicle is visible to the public. These vehicles must be placed in an enclosed structure or fenced-in yard that is not visible to the public. Placing a tarp over these vehicles is not permitted. If you are unable to remove the vehicle from public view, you must repair the vehicle, renew the vehicle’s registration, and/or affix the appropriate tag on the vehicle.
Parking in alleys / vacated alleys – Vehicles cannot be parked in any alley, blocking access for vehicles to pass from one end of the alley to the other. Some alleys in the city have been vacated. A vacated alley has been deemed to the property owners on each side of the alley and is closed to public use. If your vehicle is blocking a public alley, or is parked anywhere on a vacated alley, please move your vehicle.
Parking in front of a driveway – Vehicles cannot be parked so that any part of the vehicle is blocking someone’s driveway. Your vehicle must completely clear the skirt of the driveway. If the property owner cannot access their property due to a vehicle blocking their driveway, the vehicle is often immediately impounded and cited.
Handicap parking – A handicap parking spot is for any citizen that has a disability and has been issued a handicap placard or handicap license plate that gives them the right to park in dedicated spaces. A legal handicap parking spot should consist of and elevated sign, whether permanently affixed or moveable, imprinted with the international symbol of access.
- Note: The placard or plate belongs to the person with the disability and cannot be used by anyone else. This includes spouses, children, or caregivers, unless the disabled person is with you.
- The placard needs to be placed where it can be seen. The month, year of expiration, and handicap placard number must be visible on the bottom of the placard.
- The handicap plate must be valid, not expired and the owner of the plate must be the disabled person.
- A Purple Heart or veteran plate does not qualify as a handicap plate.
Dedicated handicap parking spots on the street – A dedicated handicap spot on the street is a parking spot that the disabled person has applied for through the city and paid to have a sign and outlined parking space. This space will have a DP# on the sign and the disabled person will have a handicap sign with that DP# in their back window. This spot still requires that the disabled person have a handicap placard or handicap plate visibly posted in the vehicle.
If a person with a handicap placard or plate parks in this dedicated space without permission from the space’s owner, all attempts will be made to move the vehicle. If not, the vehicle is often cited and impounded.
Parking on someone else’s private property (Business and Residential) – You can park on a business lot providing you are doing business at that lot but you must remove the vehicle when the business is complete. You cannot leave a vehicle parked on a business parking lot without consent from that business (Ex. Hospital, Walmart, Kroger, etc.) If you must leave the vehicle for some reason , and leave your information. The same criteria applies for private residential property. You may park on someone else’s residential property as long as you have permission to do so.
Street Sweeping – Refer to “Why did I receive a parking citation for street sweeping?”
Why did I receive a parking citation for street sweeping?
Street sweeping occurs annually throughout the city, usually towards the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Street sweeping is accomplished through a private contractor. The contractor will post signs 24 hours in advance on the side of the street in which the street sweeping will occur. Your vehicle must be moved to the other side of the street or to your private driveway during this time. If you received a citation for street sweeping, you failed to move your vehicle during the street sweeping process. If you disagree with your street sweeping citation or have an issue with how the signs were posted, contact the Clark County Municipal Court at 937-328-3713 to schedule a hearing. Parking citations for street sweeping will not be disputed over the phone with the PCA, issuing officer, or their supervisor. Disputes must go through the court process.
I received a parking citation on a vehicle that I sold. Am I still responsible?
Yes. It is your responsibility to remove your plate from the vehicle you sold. If the vehicle is sitting on the street and there is no tag, dispatch will run the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) to see who the last registered owner was. The citation will be issued to that person. If you received a parking citation concerning a vehicle you no longer own, contact the Clark County Municipal Court to request a hearing.
I have a question about a parking related issue not addressed here. Who do I reach out to?
Email parking@springfieldohio.gov
Phone 937-324-7717 (option 3)