Parking Enforcement
How do I obtain release of impounded vehicles?
Registered owners of impounded vehicles must FIRST obtain an impound release prior to going to the contract tow service storage facility. Releases can be obtained at the Police/Fire Headquarters Building located at 200 N. Third St. in Burbank.
To obtain a release on a vehicle that has been impounded as a result of an arrest other than DUI, the registered owner of the vehicle must contact the Detective assigned to the case. It is advisable to call the Burbank Police Department to assure the vehicle is available for release prior to coming in. You can call (818) 238-3333, with the case number to ascertain the release status of the vehicle, and if necessary, the name of the detective assigned to the case.
To obtain a vehicle that has been impounded as a result of DUI, driving without a license, driving on an expired license, out-of-date registration, or other traffic-related violations, it is advisable to call the Burbank Police Department Traffic Bureau at (818) 238-3100 to assure the vehicle is available for release prior to coming in.
Only the Registered Owner (RO) of a vehicle can obtain the impound release. If the RO is not available (for example, out of town), he or she may mail or overnight a NOTARIZED letter designating a person to pick up the vehicle. Only the original of the notarized letter is acceptable, not copies or faxes. In the letter, the RO must be very specific as to who will be picking up the vehicle, along with a detailed description of the vehicle, itself (make, model, license plate number, etc.).
The RO or his/her designee must present a valid California driver’s license. If the person has only a temporary license, another valid form of picture ID is necessary to obtain an impound release.
There is an administrative fee for the release of passenger vehicles and a slightly higher fee for commercial vehicles. No checks or debit cards are accepted by the Burbank Police Department. Acceptable forms of payment are cash or credit card only.
With the impound release in hand, you may go to the contract tow service and pay them the applicable tow and storage fees directly. The current contract tow service is Girard and Peterson, 154 W. Providencia Av., Burbank, CA 91502 (818) 843-8000. Please call them for particulars regarding payment methods, hours of operation, etc.
Complaints about the tow service should be made in writing to the Traffic Bureau Commander, Burbank Police Dept., 200 N. Third St., Burbank CA 91502
How do I contest a parking citation? Contest Parking Citation Form (in PDF Format)
Parking citations are now handled through a civil process. You may get details on the process by coming to the Citation Management counter at the west end of the Police lobby of the Police/Fire Headquarters Facility, or you may call (818) 238-3120.
The California Vehicle Code sets forth uniform procedures for contesting a parking citation issued by this Agency. These procedures include several express time periods that must be carefully adhered to. In order to contest a citation, the “Request of Issuing Agency Review” form must be received by the Burbank Police Department within twenty-one (21) days of the citation issuance or within fourteen (14) days of the postmark of a delinquent citation notice you have received. All periods are expressed in calendar days.Failure to comply with all stated time requirements results in a waiver of your right to contest the citation. All correspondence will be sent to the address you provide on the reverse side of the protest form. Any delays in your receiving these communications will NOT result in extensions of time periods, except as otherwise provided by law. It is your responsibility to provide a proper mailing address and zip code for personal notification of the Agency’s findings. The Agency will make no further attempts to contact you beyond the mailing of its findings.
The Agency Review will consist of an evaluation of the TECHNICAL MERIT of the citation. If the Agency finds the citation is invalid, it will be dismissed. If the Agency finds the citation valid, you will be provided with a “Request for Administrative Hearing” form with which to contest the citation further. Should you disagree with the technical findings, or feel there were extenuating circumstances, complete the form and file with the deposit of the full penalty amount within twenty-one (21) days of the postmark of the Agency’s findings.
The “Request for Administrative Hearing” form requires you to select whether you want a “Hearing by Personal Appearance” which is a physical appearance at a Hearing presided over by a Hearing Commissioner, or a “Hearing by Declaration” which is submitting your argument in writing for a decision by the Hearing Commissioner.
The appearance option is a Hearing held by a Hearing Commissioner who hears contested citations on a monthly basis. In that Hearing you can testify or have a witness testify. The Hearing Commissioner can find you not guilty or dismiss the ticket administratively. He or she can also find you guilty, in which case some or all of the posted bail is forfeited. The other option is a “Hearing by Declaration” which allows you to submit a written argument to the Hearing Commissioner, who then has the same options as with a live hearing. The decision of the Hearing Commissioner is final unless you appeal the case to Los Angeles County Superior Court; this must be done within twenty-five (25) days of the mailing of the Hearing Commissioner’s findings and requires a court-imposed fee.