How to handle a parking summons
🚦 Editor's opening remarks
Illegal parking is very common in Hong Kong, especially in downtown areas, industrial areas, and around schools, where there are few cars but many spaces. Sometimes when people are in a hurry, moving goods, or picking someone up, they will be afraid to park their car on the roadside.
The problem is that the Hong Kong Police Force, Transport Department and traffic wardens (commonly known as "ticket wardens") are very efficient in enforcing the law , and the summons system is now electronic, so it is basically difficult to get away with it once you are caught.
Receiving a summons is not necessarily the end of the world, but if you don’t know how to handle it, it can become a serious matter if you drag it out. From a fine of a few hundred, to going to court or even having your car towed, it’s no joke.
📝 1. What is a subpoena? How can I receive one?
In Hong Kong, a summons received for illegal parking, also known as a Fixed Penalty Ticket , is an enforcement measure under the Fixed Penalty (Traffic Offences) Ordinance.
Common illegal parking situations :
- Long-term parking on yellow or double yellow lines
- Bus station area
- Filling of footpaths and bicycle paths
- Regulated locations such as post offices, fire hydrants, and school gates
- Signs indicating "No Parking"
- Parking space expired (meter expired)
Who might have issued the subpoena?
- Uniformed traffic police
- plainclothes traffic police
- Complaints Team Members
- Traffic Warden, Transport Department
- Parking fee inspector (meter related)
📦 2. What options do I have after receiving a summons?
Under the current system, you have two main options:
Option A: Accept the penalty and pay the fine
- The amount of the fine will be stated on the summons (e.g. HK$320 / HK$480 / HK$640, depending on the type of offence)
- There is a 14-day notice period + a 21-day payment period
- Payment can be made in a variety of ways: convenience store (7-Eleven), mail, online banking, Jury Duty App, fixed penalty website
- Paying the money is tantamount to admitting the violation, and the case is closed.
Option B: Plea (not guilty)
- You need to respond to the summons within a specified time, indicating that you will appear in court
- You must have a reason to go to court, such as:
- You were not the driver at the time (but you must provide the real driver's information)
- Emergency (documentation: medical records, accident reports)
- Signs/route markings are obscured or blurred (photographic evidence required)
- If you lose in court, the fine may remain the same as originally agreed, but you will have to pay court costs and spend more time.
📅 3. Timeline (We'll help you sort out the process)
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On the day you receive the summons , check the summons information for errors (license plate, date, location). If you find obvious errors, you may be able to revoke it.
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14-day notice period <br>You don’t have to pay immediately, but you have 14 days to consider whether to submit a defense.
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The payment deadline is usually 21 days, calculated from the invoice date. If you exceed the payment deadline, you will be fined, and may even be arrested and appear in court.
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Consequences of overdue
- The original fine was doubled
- Received a "Court Summons for Debt Arrears"
- If you still ignore it, your license may be revoked or you may be detained upon entry.
🕵️ 4. Let me show you how to check if you can cancel your order
The following defenses may be considered:
- The location description on the summons is ridiculously wrong.
- On-site signs are damaged or obscured (photographic evidence must be instant)
- Accidental circumstances, such as being sent to the emergency room (with hospital certificate)
⚠️ But remember, Hong Kong courts have a very low tolerance for “humanitarian excuses” for illegal parking. Simply saying “parked for a while”, “in a hurry” or “no space” will not be valid.
💳 5. How to pay fines (Hong Kong version detailed instructions)
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Payment at convenience stores <br>Scan the barcode on your receipt at the cashier and pay instantly in cash.
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Online Payment
- Fixed Penalty Payment Platform (.gov.hk)
- Through the bank app (not all banks have it)
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Mail a check or cashier's check
- Header: "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region"
- Write the subpoena number on the back
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Jury Duty Kiosk
There are machines installed in some government buildings across Hong Kong.
🚫 6. How can I handle this?
If you ignore it completely:
- After 14 days → Send a reminder
- After 21 days → Issue a debt notice and add penalties
- Ignore → Issue a court summons
- Failure to appear in court → Possibility of issuing an arrest warrant
- Long-term arrears → Detained upon entry/exit, or driver's license application/renewal rejected
📌 7. Editor's Tips
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Try to avoid the "flash mentality"
The speed of issuing license plates in Hong Kong is faster than you think, only 2-3 minutes is enough. -
Develop the habit of taking photos <br>When there is a dispute over your parking spot, taking photos as evidence can save lives.
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Don't be stubborn .<br>If you are obviously in the wrong, it's better to file a lawsuit sooner rather than later to avoid wasting time and paying fines in court.
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Be careful with company cars <br>If it is a company car, the subpoena will be sent to the company address and the company will need to provide the actual driver's information.
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Be familiar with high-risk areas <br>Mong Kok, Causeway Bay, Central and Kwun Tong factory areas. Enforcement is frequent during specific hours, so please look for road signs before parking.
📊Editor's Lazy Chart (Subpoena Processing Process)
| step | Time limit | Optional Actions | Possible consequences |
|---|---|---|---|
| Received a subpoena | Today | Check documents and take photos for record | If an error is found, a defense may be considered |
| Notice period | 14th | Pay fine/defend application | No reply will be considered as delay |
| Payment period | Within 21 days of the summons date | Convenience store/online/mail payment | Overdue fines |
| Overdue | >21st | - | Court summons, arrest warrant |
| Long-term arrears | - | - | Entry and exit blocked, license suspended |
🎯 Editor's Conclusion
Illegal parking is a traffic violation that's become an urban legend in Hong Kong, and nearly every driver has fallen victim to it at least once. I understand that with limited parking spaces and uneven parking meters in Hong Kong, sometimes parking on the side of the road is a desperate move. But remember, once you've received a summons, it's difficult to overturn it. If you're clearly in the wrong, don't push it; settle the case as soon as possible to minimize the damage. To avoid being caught in the past, familiarize yourself with parking regulations and avoid high-risk areas and times.
