Paying/Appealing/Contesting Parking Citations
This page contains basic information regarding the process for appealing
parking citations. Regulations regarding appeals can be found in the
2005 Parking and Traffic Regulations (2006 regs.pdf).
How Can I Pay a Citation?
Citations may be paid over the internet using a credit card, by mail using a check, or in person using cash, check, or credit card. Click on this link to access the Parking Citation Look-Up & Payment web site. To mail a payment, use the envelope included with the citation (or address your own envelope) and send the check and citation to:
NMSU Parking Department
P.O. Box 30001 / M.S.C. 3PAR
Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001
Can I Look Up My Vehicle To See If There Are Any Outstanding Citations?
Yes, this is a new feature of our website. Via the internet, you can now look up any citations issued against your vehicle's license plate number. (NOTE: Due to a slight delay between the time citations are issued and when they are included in the database, citations issued in the previous 24 hours may not show up right away.) To use this new feature, just click here for the Parking Citation Look-Up & Payment web site.
What Is An Appeal/Contest?
An appeal/contest is a process of registering, in essence, a "not-guilty" plea to a parking citation. This can be as a result of a perceived error on the part of the person issuing the citation (for example, the citation was for not having a permit when a permit was properly displayed), or it can be because the person who received the citation does not feel the citation was appropriate under the circumstances (for example, the person had an emergency and had no choice but to park in the manner they did). There is an informal appeal that is heard by the Parking Department front-office staff at the time an appeal is made. If the person is not satisfied with the results of the informal appeal, he/she can then file a formal appeal at the same time. Formal appeals are heard by an on-campus hearing panel.
Who Can Appeal A Citation?
The driver of the vehicle is the person who needs to file the appeal, since that is the person who will need to testify about how the vehicle was parked, the circumstances, etc.
How Do I File An Appeal?
Currently, the appeal must be filed in person at the Parking Department. The process currently takes about 5 minutes. If a formal appeal (see above) is requested. Appeal time, date, and location will be sent certified mail to the address you specify.
First One Free?
The Parking Department understands that parking rules and regulations can sometimes be confusing, despite our best efforts to make them as easy to follow as possible. Since everyone can make a mistake, we will dismiss one parking citation for you, no questions asked. Just come into the office and ask for your "first one free." (NOTE: Citations for being illegally parked in disabled spaces or fire zones are not eligible to be dismissed under this program.)
This site is maintained by the NMSU Parking Department
updated: July 1, 2007.