What to do if you received a parking ticket with wrong information
If your Garland or Dallas parking ticket contains factual errors — a wrong license plate, incorrect vehicle description, invalid citation number, or a violation that didn't occur at the address listed — you have grounds to contest it. The city will not automatically dismiss the ticket; you must file a written objection with the municipal court that issued it, and you must do so before the important date printed on your citation.
The process differs slightly between Garland and Dallas because they operate separate municipal court systems, but both require you to submit your challenge in writing, provide evidence of the error, and appear in court if the city does not dismiss the ticket beforehand. Waiting until the fine is due or after you've paid does not eliminate your right to challenge, but it makes the process longer and may require you to request a refund.
Key Takeaways
- Garland and Dallas each have their own municipal courts; you must file your challenge with the court that issued your specific ticket, not the other city.
- You must submit a written objection before the important date on your ticket, which is typically 10 to 21 days from the citation date.
- Common errors that support a challenge include a wrong license plate number, incorrect vehicle make or color, an invalid citation number, or a violation code that does not match the description on the ticket.
- You will need a copy of your ticket, photographs or documents proving the error, and a clear written statement explaining what is wrong and why the ticket should be dismissed.
- If you miss the important date to file, you may still contest the ticket after paying, but you will need to request a hearing and provide proof that the error caused you harm.
How to identify an error on your ticket
Start by reading every field on your citation carefully. The officer who issued the ticket filled in your vehicle information, the violation code, the location, the date and time, and their badge number. Any of these can contain mistakes.
Common errors include a transposed digit in your license plate (for example, ABC1234 written as ABC1243), a wrong vehicle color or make, a violation code that does not match the description (such as code 70 for "expired meter" when the description says "no parking zone"), or a citation number that does not exist in the city's system. Some tickets are issued at the wrong address or on the wrong date because the officer misread a sign or made a data entry error.
If you believe the ticket describes a different vehicle or location than where you actually parked, photograph the spot where you parked, the signage at that location, and your vehicle's current license plate and color. Keep these photos with your ticket.
Filing a written objection in Garland
Garland Municipal Court handles all parking citations issued within Garland city limits. You must file your objection in writing before the important date on your ticket. The important date is usually 10 days from the citation date, but check your specific ticket.
Send your objection to Garland Municipal Court, 200 South Fifth Street, Garland, TX 75040. Include your ticket number, your name and contact information, a clear statement of what is wrong with the ticket, and any documents or photographs that prove the error. You can mail it, deliver it in person during business hours, or check the city website to see if email or online filing is available.
Keep a copy of everything you send and note the date you mailed or delivered it. If you mail it, send it at least one week before the important date to may support it arrives on time. The court will review your objection and either dismiss the ticket or schedule a hearing. You will receive notice by mail.
Filing a written objection in Dallas
Dallas Municipal Court handles parking citations issued within Dallas city limits. Like Garland, you must file your objection in writing before the important date printed on your ticket, which is typically 10 to 21 days from the citation date.
Mail your objection to Dallas Municipal Court, 1500 South Westmoreland Road, Dallas, TX 75211, or check the Dallas city website for current mailing addresses and online filing options. Include your ticket number, your name and phone number, a written explanation of the error, and any supporting documents such as photographs, a copy of your vehicle registration showing the correct license plate, or a statement from a witness.
The court will send you a response by mail. If the court finds the error is valid, it will dismiss the ticket. If it does not dismiss the ticket, you will receive notice of a hearing date. You are not required to appear in person for the hearing unless you choose to, but appearing strengthens your case.
What counts as proof of an error
The court will not dismiss a ticket based on your word alone. You need documents or photographs that show the error is real.
If the ticket lists the wrong license plate, provide a copy of your vehicle registration showing your correct plate number. If the ticket describes the wrong vehicle color or make, provide a photograph of your vehicle taken on or near the citation date, or a copy of your registration. If the ticket cites a violation code that does not match the description (for example, "expired meter" but the code is for "no parking zone"), include a photograph of the sign at that location showing what the actual restriction was.
If the ticket was issued at the wrong address, photograph the location where you actually parked, showing the street sign and any relevant parking signs. If you have a witness who can confirm where you parked or what the sign said, ask them to write a brief statement with their name and contact information and include it with your objection.
What happens if you miss the filing important date
If you do not file your objection before the important date on your ticket, you have not lost your right to challenge it, but the process becomes more complicated. You can still request a hearing after the important date, but you will need to show that the error caused you harm or that you had a good reason for missing the important date.
If you have already paid the ticket, you can request a refund hearing. Contact the municipal court that issued your ticket and ask for a "request for hearing" form. Explain the error and why you believe the ticket should not have been issued. The court will schedule a hearing, and you can present your evidence then. If the judge agrees the ticket was issued in error, you will receive a refund.
Filing before the important date is always faster and simpler, so if you notice an error, do not wait.
Preparing for a hearing if the court does not dismiss your ticket
If you file your objection and the court does not dismiss the ticket, you will receive a notice of hearing with a date and time. You can appear in person, by phone, or by video depending on what the court offers. Appearing in person is usually most effective because you can show photographs and documents directly to the judge.
Bring the original ticket, all photographs and documents you submitted with your objection, your vehicle registration, and any other evidence of the error. Write down the key points you want to make — for example, "The ticket says my license plate is ABC1243, but my registration shows ABC1234" — and keep your statement brief and factual.
The judge will listen to your explanation and may ask questions. If the judge finds that the error is real and material (meaning it affected whether the ticket should have been issued), the ticket will be dismissed and any fine you paid will be refunded. If the judge does not find the error persuasive, you will owe the fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I challenge a ticket if I think the sign was unclear or hard to see?
Yes, but this is a different type of challenge than a factual error. You would argue that the parking restriction was not clearly posted, which means you did not have fair notice. Photograph the sign and the area around it, showing how visible it is from where you parked. This type of challenge is harder to win than a factual error, but it is worth trying if the sign was genuinely obscured or missing.
What if the officer wrote the wrong violation code but the description matches what I did?
If the violation code is wrong but the description of what you did is correct, the court may still uphold the ticket because the substance of the violation is clear. However, if the code and description contradict each other — for example, the code says "expired meter" but the description says "no parking zone" — that is a material error and grounds for dismissal.
Do I need a lawyer to challenge a parking ticket?
No. Most parking ticket challenges are handled by the person who received the ticket, and you do not need a lawyer. The court process is designed to be accessible without legal representation. A lawyer can help if you want one, but the cost usually exceeds the fine.
How long does it take to get a decision after I file my objection?
It varies. Some courts dismiss tickets within two to four weeks if the error is clear. Others schedule a hearing, which can take four to eight weeks. If you appear at a hearing, the judge usually decides on the spot or within a few days.
Can I get my money back if I already paid the ticket?
Yes. If you paid the ticket and then discovered an error, you can request a refund hearing. Contact the municipal court and explain the error. If the court agrees the ticket should not have been issued, you will receive a refund of the fine you paid.