Parking Citations

Here are the answers to some commonly asked parking citation questions.

How do I pay for a citation?

To pay for a parking or administrative citation(s), or for more inquiries on your ticket(s), you can pay online, in person, by mail, or by phone.

Pay online: Visit www.citationprocessingcenter.com. You can search by citation number, notice number, or by license plate (for parking citations only). Your citation number can be found on the original ticket or on the Notice for Citation, enter the citation number (numbers & letters, no spaces/special characters) and time of the violation. For Search by Notice Number, you should have a notice received in the mail, you can enter the notice number and your zip code. For Search by License Plate, enter your license plate number and plate state.

Pay by phone: Please have your citation number & license plate handy when you call 800.989.2058. MasterCard, VISA, or Discover credit or debit cards accepted.

Pay in person: Pay your ticket in person at Union City Police Department; cash or check accepted. We are located at City Hall, 34009 Alvarado-Niles Road, Union City, California 94587.

Pay by mail: Write citation number and license plate number on a check and send it to the address below. An addressed envelope is also provided with your citation.

City of Union City
Citation Processing Center
P.O. Box 10479
Newport Beach, CA 92658-0479

What if I don't have my citation number?

If you do not have your citation number, you can instead look up citations by vehicle license plate number and plate state. Just enter the vehicle license plate number in the field indicated, select the plate state, then click on "Search."

How much is the processing fee?

The processing fee for online citation payments is a service charge (fee) billed on all credit card payments. The amount is listed on the payment screen.

Why isn't my parking citation in the Citation Processing Center's system?

If you just received your citation, you will not be able to pay online until it is downloaded to the citation processing center's system. Most citations are issued using handheld electronic ticket writing equipment and are downloaded within just a few days after being issued. Handwritten citations can take several weeks to be entered into the parking citation system.

If your citation is not in the system, you can still send your payment by mail or pay in-person. Just make sure you include a copy of the original citation with your payment. Your payment will be processed upon receipt. Once the citation is entered or downloaded into the system, the payment will be automatically applied to the citation and no further action will be required on your part.

If you cannot locate your citation on the website and need additional information or are experiencing difficulties accessing the website, please call Citation Processing Center's Customer Service at 800.989.2058.

How do I contact the issuing agency directly?

To contact the issuing agency directly, dial the phone number that appears on your citation and/or delinquent notice.

I want to contest my citation. Can I contest a citation through CitationProcessCenter.com

You can submit requests for citation reviews or appeals on CitationProcessingCenter.com by using Appeal Citation option in Citation Inquiry screen. For more information on contesting a Citation click here.

Why won't the website let me pay my citation?

Sometimes the website may not be available for making inquiries or accepting payments. If you are unable to access the Citation Processing Center's website it should be available within few hours.

If you continue to experience difficulties accessing the website, please call Citation Processing Center's Customer Service at 800.989.2058.

If your citation is not in the system, you can still send your payment by mail or pay in-person. Just make sure you include a copy of the original citation with your payment. Your payment will be processed upon receipt. Once the citation is entered or downloaded into the system, the payment will be automatically applied to the citation and no further action will be required on your part.

What if I can't locate my citation on Citation Processing Center?

If you just received your citation, you will not be able to pay online until it is downloaded to the parking citation system. Most citations are issued using handheld electronic ticket writing equipment and are downloaded within just a few days after being issued. Handwritten citations can take several weeks to be entered into the parking citation system.

If your citation is not in the system, you can still send your payment by mail or pay in-person. Just make sure you include a copy of the original citation with your payment. Your payment will be processed upon receipt. Once the citation is entered or downloaded into the system, the payment will be automatically applied to the citation and no further action will be required on your part.

If you cannot locate your citation on the website and need additional information or are experiencing difficulties accessing the website, please call Citation Processing Center's Customer Service at 800.989.2058.

Why does more than one parking citation show? Do I have to pay them all?

If there are other citations issued on the same vehicle, they will be displayed as a courtesy. You may elect to pay any or all of the parking citations shown. However, it is to your benefit to pay all outstanding citations as soon as possible. Failure to pay citations timely will result in significant consequences.

How does the Citation Processing Center system work?

Once you have selected the citation(s) to be paid, follow the on-screen instructions. You will be asked for your credit card information. Your credit card information will be validated, and the payment and associate credit card charge will be processed.

If the credit card information is valid and the payment is authorized, the payment will be immediately applied to the citation, and you will see the charge on your next credit card statement. You should print the on-line receipt for your records.

What if I'm not comfortable paying my citation online?

The Citation Processing Center's system use of 128-bit encryption, the highest level of encryption available, assures your transaction is safe and secure. However, if you are still not comfortable making your payment on-line you can call Citation Processing Center's Customer Service at 800.989.2058 and use our automated system to make your payment over the phone.

Is the system secure?

Using Verisign’s latest 128bit SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption technology, your personal information is securely passed to the Verisign gateway for payment processing.

Can I make several payments at once, or must I make each payment individually?

You can pay multiple citations in one transaction.

How long does it take for my payment to reflect in your system?

The citation is updated with your payment as soon as you successfully complete your transaction (you obtain the receipt page with your transaction number). If you have cause to believe that your transaction completed but the system did not update, DO NOT ATTEMPT THE SAME PAYMENT. This is to ensure that you do not submit a duplicate payment. Contact Customer support and we will assist you.

What if I get a message that the system is not available?

If you receive a message that the system is unavailable for accepting payments it should be available within few hours. For your convenience, the Citation Processing Center system is generally available 24/7. However, on occasion, the system may be down for routine maintenance or repairs.

If you continue to experience difficulties accessing the website, please call Citation Processing Center's Customer Service at 800.989.2058 and use our automated system to make your payment over the phone.