Denver Drivers Facing Higher Parking Fines After City Removes Online Ticket Appeals
Drivers in Denver are facing new challenges when trying to dispute parking tickets after the city eliminated its online appeal system last year, leading to a surge in in-person hearings and, in some cases, higher fines.
In September 2025, Denver removed the ability to challenge parking citations online as part of budget cuts that eliminated several parking magistrate positions and support staff. The city’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure said a new system would be introduced in 2026, but that replacement platform has not yet been launched.
Without the online option, drivers who want to fight a ticket must now schedule an appointment at the Denver City and County Building and then return later for an in-person hearing. The change has significantly increased the number of hearing requests. From January through September 2025, the city averaged about six in-person hearings per month, but that number jumped to more than 200 per month by the end of the year.
The change has been particularly difficult for some residents. One Denver driver said she received a ticket after parking in a residential permit area while using a disability placard due to stage 4 cancer. She believed the placard allowed her to park there, as it does in some other cities, but Denver does not allow that exception. Without the online dispute option, she had to schedule and attend hearings in person to challenge the citation.
Another resident dealing with cancer said she received a $350 ticket after parking in a disability spot at her oncologist’s office without displaying her placard. When the issue was not resolved quickly, the fine doubled to $700 and was scheduled to increase again if the dispute process continued to take time.
Some city council members have expressed concern about the change and have urged the mayor’s office to restore the eliminated positions. In a letter, council members said the roles were essential to managing parking enforcement and resolving citations efficiently.
Critics say requiring in-person hearings can be difficult for many residents, particularly those with hourly jobs, disabilities, or limited transportation options. For some drivers, the time required to schedule and attend hearings could cost more in lost wages than simply paying the ticket.
For now, drivers disputing parking tickets in Denver must follow the in-person process and be mindful of deadlines, since fines can increase the longer a citation remains unpaid.
