Parking a vehicle within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, preventing emergency access.
This guide is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. TicketClear is a self-help document preparation service — we are not attorneys and do not represent clients. Review all prepared documents carefully before submitting. Fine amounts are estimates and vary by county and surcharge schedule.
This violation is issued when you park your vehicle within 15 feet of a fire hydrant. The law exists to ensure firefighters have immediate, unobstructed access to hydrants during emergencies, where every second counts.
Fines typically range from $100 to $250 depending on your county. Since this is a parking violation, it carries no DMV points and won't affect your driving record or insurance rates. However, the fine itself can be costly, and your vehicle may also be towed at your expense.
No insurance impact. Parking violations do not add points to your DMV record and are not reported to insurance companies. Your rates will not increase from this ticket.
A driver parks 10 feet from a fire hydrant in a crowded neighborhood because no other spots were available
Ticket is valid. Lack of parking is not a legal excuse for blocking hydrant access.
A driver parks legally, but the fire hydrant was completely hidden by an overgrown bush and not visible from the street
Strong defense. If the hydrant was genuinely not visible to a reasonable driver, the ticket may be dismissed.
A driver stops briefly in a red zone near a hydrant to drop off a passenger while remaining in the vehicle
May avoid citation if driver stayed in vehicle and was ready to move immediately, though officer discretion applies.
A vehicle is parked 16 feet from a hydrant but receives a ticket anyway
Good defense if driver can prove with photos or measurements that the vehicle was beyond the 15-foot limit.
These are the defense arguments that appear most often in successful Trial by Written Declarations for this violation.
Vehicle was more than 15 feet from the hydrant
Document with photographs showing the distance between your bumper and the fire hydrant. The 15-foot requirement is measured from the front bumper to the nearest point of the hydrant.
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The 15 feet is measured from the hydrant itself, not from any curb markings. If you have photos, you can estimate using reference points like sidewalk squares (typically 4-5 feet each) or return to the location to measure.
Red curb markings are not legally required for hydrant zones in California. However, if your area typically marks them and this one wasn't, it may support an argument that the hydrant zone wasn't reasonably apparent.
If you remained in your vehicle and were able to move immediately, you may argue you were temporarily stopping rather than parking. However, this defense is fact-specific and depends on circumstances.
If you successfully contest the parking ticket, you may be able to recover towing and storage fees. Keep all receipts and request reimbursement from the city after your ticket is dismissed.
No. Parking violations like CVC 22514 do not appear on your DMV driving record and do not add any points. Only the fine itself is at stake.
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This guide is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. TicketClear is a self-help document preparation service — we are not attorneys and do not represent clients. Review all prepared documents carefully before submitting. Fine amounts are estimates and vary by county and surcharge schedule.
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