A parking violation, parking citation, notice of illegal parking or parking ticket (depending on the jurisdiction) is a notice of monetary penalty issued for parking a motor vehicle in a restricted place or for parking in an unauthorized manner. It is against the law virtually everywhere to park a vehicle in the middle of a highway or road; parking on one or both sides of a road, however, is commonly permitted. However, restrictions apply to such parking, and may result in an offence being committed. Such offenses include, but are not limited to:

• Parking in a prohibited space such as a bus stop or in front of a fire hydrant or a driveway or a garage entrance.
• Parking on a sidewalk (unless specifically allowed by signs)
• Parking in or too close to a street crossing, railroad crossing or crosswalk.
• Double parking
• Parking at a parking meter without paying, or for longer than the paid time.
• Parking in a handicapped zone without a handicapped permit.
• Parking with expired or missing license plates, parking without proper vehicle inspection decal, parking without a zone permit in places where parking severely impacted.
• Parking without special permit, where one is needed (like a parking for employees of a company)
• Parking with the parking permit or payment receipt not visible in the prescribed way, like upside down.
• Parking on certain streets in a snow emergency when streets need to be plowed of snow.
• Parking for longer than the maximum time, often that is 24 hours.
• Parking facing against the direction of traffic (considered confusing to moving drivers, especially at night)
• Parking outside marked squares, for example angle parking where only parallel parking is allowed.

United States

In 1926 American merchants listed downtown traffic congestion as their most serious difficulty. Unenforced curbside parking and lack of off-street parking facilities were listed as the primary problems. Customers went where they could park.

During the great depression city revenues dwindled. With parking meters, however, a new source of municipal revenue was found. Not only did the nickels paid in by parkers accumulate, but so did the fines imposed for over parking. By 1944, American cities were generating some $10 million annually from parking meters alone. Soon after came meter maids, who were paid less than police officers, to increase city revenues.Fact: date=February 2007 Complex parking rules, restrictions and regulations are now an integral part of modern life and landscape.

Typically a ticket is placed on a vehicle when the owner or driver is not present. There is no place for a signature, and in California the registered owner cannot be charged with a misdemeanor or other criminal offense for ignoring a ticket. A letter will usually be sent prior to any punitive action. Most jurisdictions, however, will have sanctions such as refusal to allow renewal of license plates if the owner of the vehicle has unpaid parking tickets. In some jurisdictions, such as New York City, a vehicle may be towed if it has overdue parking fines exceeding a specified balance and subjected to impounded vehicle auction if unredeemed. In many jurisdictions, such as Boston, vehicles with numerous outstanding parking citations are subject to booting.