When You Should Never Pay a “Parking Ticket"

(This is happening all over the country, but I used Florida as the example)

We’ve all seen it: you return to your car to find a slip of paper under the wiper. It’s orange or red, it says “CITATION”or “NOTICE OF NON-COMPLIANCE” in bold letters, and it demands $45, $75, or even $100. Your heart sinks. You feel like you’ve broken the law.

Stop. Take a breath. And look closer. If you are in a private lot (like a retail plaza, a beach-side garage, or a “2-hour free” zone managed by a third party), that paper isn’t a ticket. It’s an invoice.

1. The “Police Power” Illusion

Under Florida law and most other states, only a “Parking Enforcement Specialist” or a law enforcement officer can issue a true municipal ticket. Private companies have zero authority to fine you. When they put a “notice” on your car, they are technically sending you a bill for a “breach of contract.”

2. The 2024 “Transparency” Test

As of July 1, 2024, Florida Statute §715.075 (passed as HB 271) requires private parking companies to follow strict rules. If they fail even one of these, you have a massive legal advantage to ignore or dispute the charge:

• The “Disclaimer” Requirement: Every private invoice must contain this exact statement in all caps:

• The 15-Minute Grace Period: They cannot charge you if you enter and leave within 15 minutes (as long as you don’t actually park).

• The Signage: The lot must have a sign at the entrance stating clearly that the property is not operated by a government entity.

3. The “Neutral Third-Party” Trap

If you dispute a private invoice, the company might try to steer you into a “private portal” for arbitration. The new law requires them to use a Neutral Third-Party Adjudicator.

• The Catch: Some companies will try to make you “split the fee” for this arbitrator.

• The Reality: If they are issuing these invoices for a “City” (like the City of Riviera Beach) on a public road, they aren’t allowed to use this private arbitration system. Public tickets belong in a public court. If they try to force you into a private portal for a street ticket, they are likely violating the Separation of Powers doctrine.

4. What Happens if You Don’t Pay?

The biggest fear is: “Will they take my license?” or “Will this hit my credit?”

• Your License: A private company cannot block your registration or suspend your driver’s license in Florida. Only a court or the DMV can do that for unpaid government tickets.

• Your Credit: Most credit bureaus will not accept a “debt” from a parking company unless there is a court judgment against you—and it’s almost never worth it for them to sue you for $40.

• The Real Risk: The only real power they have is towing or booting your car if you ever park in one of their lots again with an outstanding balance.

Summary: When to Fight

If your “ticket” was issued in a lot that promised “2 Hours Free” and you were only there for 90 minutes, do not pay.They are counting on your fear of “The Law” to extract $40 from you.

When you dispute the charge, remind them that under F.S. 715.075, they must prove the violation and provide a neutral adjudicator. Often, just like in the recent “uprising” in Riviera Beach, the company will “cancel as a courtesy” rather than admit their system is rigged or their legal standing is shaky.

Stop Being a Human ATM for Parking Profiteers

Think that “ticket” on your windshield is the law? Think again. In his new book, America’s Great Parking Scam: You’ve Been Robbed, “recovering attorney” Kerry Lutz exposes the multibillion-dollar shell game where private companies use “police-style” intimidation to trick you into paying illegal invoices. From “2-hour free” traps to unconstitutional private portals, Lutz gives you the legal playbook to fight back, shut down the scammers, and keep your hard-earned money.

Don’t just pay it—fight it. Get the truth at ParkScam.com.