Requests for a contest hearing shall be made in writing addressed to the Town Manager, Howard Tipton, and include the following:

1. a complete name and address of the person requesting the hearing, a phone number and email address;
2. a copy of the parking citation;
3. a copy of the requester's driver's license, and
4. a copy of the vehicle registration.
5. You may also state your reasoning for contesting the citation. 

Town Manager’s Office forwards citation contest to Planning, Zoning & Building Department/Code Enforcement to schedule a hearing before the Special Magistrate. Code Enforcement will review to determine if contest request is received within 14-day contest period. If timely filed, Code Enforcement will forward a copy of the citation contest request to the Police and Finance Departments upon receipt.

To submit this letter you can email it to the Town Manager's Office or Mail it to:

Town Manager's Office
501 Bay Isles Road 
Longboat Key, FL 34207

• Code Enforcement provides a notice of hearing (for next available Special Magistrate Hearing) confirming the time and date of the hearing to the complaining party by email, if provided, or by USPS first class mail to the address provided on the citation contest.
• Code Enforcement provides a copy to the Police Department of the notice of hearing.

The notice of contest hearing will state:

1. The date, time, and location of a pre-scheduled parking violation hearing;
2. That a person who elects to contest the citation may be assessed an additional, supplemental penalty of up to $100.00 if found in violation after a hearing by the Special Magistrate unless otherwise authorized or prohibited by law;
3. That a person who elects to contest a violation and then fails to appear at the parking violation hearing shall be deemed to have waived his or her right to a hearing and may be found in violation by default subject to an additional, supplemental penalty of up to $100.00, unless otherwise authorized or prohibited by law;
4. That unpaid violations will be in delinquent status and are subject to being sent to collections for payment.

• The Special Magistrate will hear the contested violation at the noticed hearing time and date, and may, upon a proper showing by the complaining party, void or cancel the parking ticket if, in his or her reasonable determination, he or she finds that such parking citation was not properly issued (hearings are typically held on the 3^rd Wednesday of the month at 10:00 a.m.).
• A Police Department representative will attend the meeting, present evidence and testimony, and coordinate with the Town Attorney on applicable orders or other appropriate follow-up based on outcome of hearing.
• Police Department will provide a copy of the Special Magistrate’s order to the Finance Department and to the violator. 

• Cancellation or continuances of hearings; burden of proof; payment after hearing:

1. A scheduled parking violation hearing will be cancelled if full payment of the pending violation(s) is received prior to the hearing date. A person wanting to continue a parking violation hearing date shall deliver a written request for continuance to the Town Manager at least 72 hours prior to the hearing date and shall be permitted to request one continuance for convenience. A notice of the rescheduled parking violation hearing time and date shall be reissued at least 30 days in advance of the rescheduled hearing.
2. A violation shall be proven at a hearing by the preponderance of the evidence.
3. A finding of violation requires all penalties and costs to be paid to the Town within seven (7) calendar days unless additional time is granted by the Special Magistrate over the hearing.
4. Failure to pay outstanding penalties or costs after a finding of a violation at a hearing shall result in the citation being in delinquent status if not paid within the time period allowed.

• In addition to any civil actions instituted by the Town, the Town may institute proceedings under applicable Florida law, including Chapters 316 and 318, Florida Statutes, to charge the violator with a noncriminal traffic infraction. Each violation shall be the subject of a separate action under such statutes.

• The Town may elect to pursue the collection of monetary penalties and any delinquency fees for parking violations from the vehicle owner responsible for such parking violations. In the event such collections are pursued, the Town may seek recovery of its fees and costs associated with such collection activities in the manner permitted by applicable law.

• In addition to any criminal or noncriminal traffic infractions instituted by the Town, the Town may institute civil proceedings in a court of appropriate jurisdiction to collect all fines incurred. For the purposes of such civil action, all fines may be deemed to have accumulated and may be sought and collected in one civil action. In addition to all fines, the defendant shall be responsible for all court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by the Town.