Media Advisory
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:Thursday, March 4, 1999
Contact:Amy Bertsch, City Manager's Office, (703) 838-4300; Kendel Taylor, Financial and Information Technology Services, (703) 838-6420

Parking Adjudication Office Opens in Alexandria
The City of Alexandria opened its Parking Adjudication Office on Monday, March 1, 1999. The office, located at 421 King Street in Suite 211, is open from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on City holidays. Anyone wishing to contest a parking citation may do so by mail or by seeking a hearing in the office, either by scheduling an appointment or on a walk-in basis. The telephone number for the office is (703) 519-3360.

Parking enforcement officers in the City have begun issuing newly printed citations which contain the address of the new office. Only tickets issued on March 1, 1999, or later are eligible for adjudication.

The Alexandria City Council approved funding in December for the new office, responding to a request by the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office for a means of providing citizens with a more efficient and responsive system for contesting a parking citation. The creation of this office continues City Council's efforts to improve customer service to citizens, business people and visitors to Alexandria. In November, City Council approved extending the operating hours of the Treasury and Revenue Divisions of the Finance Department at City Hall to include Saturday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to noon for payment of property taxes and parking citations.

Under the new adjudication system, individuals may present their cases to a trained adjudicator for a hearing fee of ten dollars. The adjudicator has the authority to dismiss or to reduce a fine or to uphold the citation and fine issued by the parking enforcement officer. In the event that the citation is dismissed, the ten dollar hearing fee is waived. An individual who is not satisfied with the outcome is still entitled to an appeal to the General District Court and may schedule a court date at the Parking Adjudication Office.

Fines and hearing fees are payable at the Treasury Division located in Suite 1510 of City Hall located at 301 King Street or in the night deposit located on the Royal Street side of City Hall. Payment can also be made by credit card by calling 1-888-2PAY-TAX.