Double parking in California is illegal under Vehicle Code Section 22500(h), which prohibits stopping or parking on the roadway side of any vehicle already parked at the curb.1California Legislative Information. California Code VEH 22500 The ban applies whether you stay in the car or walk away, and even a quick stop to drop off a passenger counts. Fines generally fall between $65 and $110 depending on the city, and a car that blocks traffic can be towed on top of the citation.
What Counts as Double Parking
The statute uses the phrase “whether attended or unattended.” That language closes the loophole most drivers reach for first: sitting behind the wheel with your hazard lights on does not create an exception. If your car is positioned on the traffic side of a parked vehicle, you are in violation regardless of how long you plan to stay.
Parking violations in California are civil infractions, not criminal offenses, so a double parking ticket will not add points to your driving record or appear on a criminal background check.2California Legislative Information. California Code, Vehicle Code – VEH 40200 Both the registered owner and the driver are jointly liable for the fine, so lending your car to someone who gets cited still leaves you on the hook if they don’t pay.
The Narrow Exceptions
The only exception written into 22500(h) itself is for school buses loading or unloading students in a residential or business district where the speed limit is 25 mph or less. Outside those conditions, even school buses have to follow the rule.
A separate statute, Vehicle Code 22502, sometimes gets mistaken for a double parking exemption. It requires vehicles to park with their right-hand wheels within 18 inches of the curb and exempts commercial vehicles loading or unloading merchandise, along with public utility vehicles performing maintenance or repairs.3California Legislative Information. California Code VEH 22502 Those exemptions let a delivery truck or utility crew deviate from the parallel-parking requirement, but they do not override the separate prohibition against parking on the roadway side of another vehicle. Enforcement officers often use discretion with commercial and utility vehicles actively working, but the statute itself gives them no blanket pass.
What the Ticket Costs
Fine amounts are set locally. In Los Angeles, a double parking ticket currently runs about $68. San Diego charges $83.50, which includes an $11 state surcharge.4City of San Diego. Parking Citation Fine Amounts San Francisco is on the high end at $108.5San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. SFMTA Fees and Fines Across most California cities, expect to pay somewhere between $65 and $110.
Ignoring the citation is what turns a nuisance into a real expense. Late penalties kick in once the deadline passes. Some jurisdictions double the original fine on delinquent notices, and courts can add a civil assessment of up to $100 on top of that. A $68 ticket can climb past $200 if you leave it alone.
When Your Car Can Be Towed
A double-parked vehicle that obstructs traffic can be towed immediately under Vehicle Code 22651(b), which authorizes removal when a vehicle obstructs the normal movement of traffic or creates a hazard.6California Legislative Information. California Code VEH 22651 The officer doesn’t have to wait for you to come back. If your car is blocking a lane and you aren’t there to move it, towing is the likely outcome.
Getting the car back means paying the tow fee and daily storage charges. Standard California tow rates typically run $150 to $250, with storage adding $25 to $70 per day. Combined with the original ticket, total costs can easily top $300 even if you retrieve the vehicle the same day.
Civil Liability if Someone Crashes
A double-parked vehicle can expose you to more than a citation. If another driver swerves to avoid your car and hits a pedestrian or another vehicle, you could face a lawsuit for the resulting injuries and property damage. The legal theory is that blocking the lane was a foreseeable cause of the collision.
Liability in these situations is rarely one-sided. The driver who swerved also has a duty to operate safely, and a court will weigh both parties’ conduct. But illegally obstructing a lane puts you in a weak position if something goes wrong. Auto insurance may cover part of a claim, though policy limits and fault determinations vary.
How to Contest the Ticket
You have 21 calendar days from the date the ticket was issued to request an initial review from the issuing agency. If you receive a delinquent notice instead, the window drops to 14 calendar days from the mailing date. The initial review is free and can usually be requested by phone, in writing, in person, or online in cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco.7California Legislative Information. California Code, Vehicle Code – VEH 402158Los Angeles Department of Transportation. Contest a Parking Citation
If the agency agrees the violation didn’t occur, that you weren’t the responsible party, or that the circumstances warrant dismissal, the citation gets canceled. If the review goes against you, the agency has to explain why and tell you how to request a formal administrative hearing. You then have another 21 calendar days from the date the denial was mailed to request that hearing, and at this stage you generally have to deposit the full penalty amount first.
The strongest evidence is photographic proof from the scene. Pictures showing your vehicle was actually at the curb, that signage was missing or misleading, or that the address on the citation doesn’t match where you parked can all support a challenge. Take the photos as soon as you find the ticket. Waiting days or weeks weakens the case because conditions at the location change.
Paying the Ticket
If you don’t contest, most jurisdictions let you pay online through their parking citation portal using the citation number on the ticket. Payment by mail works too; the ticket includes the address and instructions for sending a check or money order with the stub. Either way, pay within the deadline printed on the ticket to avoid late penalties.
Missing the payment window costs more than extra money. A delinquent parking citation can be sent to collections, and the DMV may place a hold on your vehicle registration, which blocks you from renewing until the balance is cleared. For a violation that starts under $110, that kind of escalation is entirely avoidable by handling the ticket promptly.