California Codes

Cal. Vehicle Code § 40202 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026

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(a)If a vehicle is unattended during the time of the violation, the peace officer or person authorized to enforce parking laws and regulations shall securely attach to the vehicle a notice of parking violation setting forth the violation, including reference to the section of this code or of the Public Resources Code, the local ordinance, or the federal statute or regulation so violated; the date; the approximate time thereof; the location where the violation occurred; a statement printed on the notice indicating that the date of payment is required to be made not later than 21 calendar days from the date of citation issuance; and the procedure for the registered owner, lessee, or rentee to deposit the parking penalty or, pursuant to Section 40215, contest the citation. The notice of parking violation shall also set forth the vehicle license number and registration expiration date if they are visible, the last four digits of the vehicle identification number, if that number is readable through the windshield, the color of the vehicle, and, if possible, the make of the vehicle. The notice of parking violation, or copy thereof, shall be considered a record kept in the ordinary course of business of the issuing agency and the processing agency and shall be prima facie evidence of the facts contained therein.

(b)The notice of parking violation shall be served by attaching it to the vehicle either under the windshield wiper or in another conspicuous place upon the vehicle so as to be easily observed by the person in charge of the vehicle upon the return of that person.

(c)Once the issuing officer has prepared the notice of parking violation and has attached it to the vehicle as provided in subdivisions (a) and (b), the officer shall file the notice with the processing agency. Any person, including the issuing officer and any member of the officer’s department or agency, or any peace officer who alters, conceals, modifies, nullifies, or destroys, or causes to be altered, concealed, modified, nullified, or destroyed the face of the remaining original or any copy of a citation that was retained by the officer, for any reason, before it is filed with the processing agency or with a person authorized to receive the deposit of the parking penalty, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(d)If, during the issuance of a notice of parking violation, without regard to whether the vehicle was initially attended or unattended, the vehicle is driven away prior to attaching the notice to the vehicle, the issuing officer shall file the notice with the processing agency. The processing agency shall mail, within 15 calendar days of issuance of the notice of parking violation, a copy of the notice of parking violation or transmit an electronic facsimile of the notice to the registered owner.

(e)If, within 21 days after the notice of parking violation is attached to the vehicle, the issuing officer or the issuing agency determines that, in the interest of justice, the notice of parking violation should be canceled, the issuing agency, pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 40215, shall cancel the notice of parking violation or, if the issuing agency has contracted with a processing agency, shall notify the processing agency to cancel the notice of parking violation pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 40215. The reason for the cancellation shall be set forth in writing.

If, after a copy of the notice of parking violation is attached to the vehicle, the issuing officer determines that there is incorrect data on the notice, including, but not limited to, the date or time, the issuing officer may indicate in writing, on a form attached to the original notice, the necessary correction to allow for the timely entry of the notice on the processing agency’s data system. A copy of the correction shall be mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle.

(f)Under no circumstances shall a personal relationship with any officer, public official, or law enforcement agency be grounds for cancellation.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 4 cases, 1999–2011 · leading case: People v. Hart, 86 Cal. Rptr. 2d 762 (Cal. Ct. App. 1999).

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People v. Hart, 86 Cal. Rptr. 2d 762 (Cal. Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 4× “For example, the defendant asserts Deputy Bricker could not require her to provide identification because (1) an officer can leave a citation on the windshield of an unattended vehicle (Veh.Code, § 40202, subd. (a)) and (2) a citation can be mailed to the owner of the vehicle if…”

People v. Bennett, 197 Cal. App. 4th 907 (Cal. Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 5× “It is, therefore, inapplicable here as defendant and another person were in the Town Car while it was illegally parked.”

United States v. Azim Choudhry, 461 F.3d 1097 (9th Cir. 2006). “The court noted that although the Vehicle Code outlines the procedures for citing an unattended illegally parked vehicle, see Cal. Veh.Code § 40202, it does not contain a provision governing the procedures for “giving notice” when an illegally parked *1104 vehicle is occupied,…”

United States v. Choudhry (9th Cir. 2006). “CHOUDHRY see Cal. Veh. Code § 40202 , it does not contain a provision governing the procedures for “giving notice” when an ille- gally parked vehicle is occupied, Hart, 86 Cal.”

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