(a) A person determined by a hearing officer, at either an instanter or scheduled administrative adjudication hearing or by failure to answer a parking citation or appear at a hearing in the time required, to be liable for a parking violation may appeal this determination to the municipal court by filing a petition, along with a filing fee of $15, with the municipal court clerk or a deputy clerk within 30 calendar days after the hearing officer's order is filed with the department of Dallas municipal court. If the hearing officer's order is reversed, the $15 filing fee shall be returned by the city to the appellant.
(b) Upon receipt of an appeal petition, the municipal court clerk or deputy clerk shall schedule an appeal hearing and notify all parties of the date, time, and location of the hearing. The officer or other authorized person who issued the parking citation is not required to be present at the appeal hearing unless requested by the person charged or by the municipal court.
(c) The appeal hearing must be a trial de novo in municipal court and is a civil proceeding for the purpose of affirming or reversing the hearing officer’s order. The person filing the appeal may request that the hearing be held before a jury. The decision from the municipal court is final.
(d) Service of notice of appeal under this section does not stay the enforcement and collection of any order of a hearing officer, unless the person filing the appeal pays to the director of transportation an amount equal to all civil fines, penalties, and costs assessed against the person charged. The director of transportation shall issue a receipt for any amounts paid under this subsection. After presentation of the receipt, all amounts paid will be refunded if the hearing officer's order is overturned on appeal. (Ord. Nos. 20012; 21194; 21612; 22026; 27697; 28424; 30239; 30654; 32557)