The Administrative Citation Enforcement Program ("ACE Program"), under the umbrella of the Outreach and Restorative Justice Division, is a non-criminal approach to nuisance abatement and quality of life offenses - using fines (instead of arrest, incarceration and criminal records) - for people who violate the Los Angeles Municipal Code. Coordinated between the L.A. City Attorney's Office, LAPD and Animal Services, ACE is far superior to using criminal courts and criminal sanctions to deal with minor offenses. Some ACE violators, particularly people 18 - 21, have been referred to our Neighborhood Justice Program as an alternative adjudication to their citation cases.
FAQ
What happens if I've been issued an administrative citation?
- Review the ACE Program Fact Sheet (link to PDF)
- Review the ACE Program Policies and Procedures Overview (link to PDF)
Which offenses are eligible for the ACE Program?
- List of eligible LAPD Municipal Code offenses (link to spreadsheet)
- List of eligible Department of Animal Services offenses (link to spreadsheet)
How long do I have to pay the fine?
Payment must be made within 20 days, and payment can be accepted online (click on Administrative Citations), over the phone, or by mailing in a check or money order.
What happens if a fine is not paid?
The City may use any civil legal remedy available to collect any unpaid administrative fine or to gain compliance with the administrative order.
Can a citation be contested?
A citation may be contested within 20 days after mailing of the "Official Notice of Administrative Violation and Fine Due."
Additional Forms
- Request an initial review of your citation (link to PDF)
- Request an initial review of your citation - Spanish (link to PDF)
- Request an administrative hearing about your citation (link to PDF)
- Request an administrative hearing about your citation - Spanish (link to PDF)
- Request an advance deposit hardship waiver (link to PDF)
- Request an advance deposit hardship waiver - Spanish (link to PDF)
- Application for fine reduction for a street vending citation (link to PDF)
- Application for fine reduction for a street vending citation - Spanish (link to PDF)
Download form, fill it out and mail a hard copy to:
City of Los Angeles ACE Program Processing Center
Post Office Box 7275
Newport Beach, CA. 92658