parking ticket

Meaning

A parking ticket can mean two things: a slip of paper showing you have paid to park in a garage or lot, or a fine issued by police or traffic wardens for parking illegally or staying past your paid time.

Examples

• I got a fifty-dollar parking ticket because I parked in a loading zone.

  I got a fifty-dollar parking ticket because I parked in a loading zone.

• Don't lose your parking ticket, or you'll have to pay the maximum daily rate when leaving the garage.

  Don't lose your parking ticket, or you'll have to pay the maximum daily rate when leaving the garage.

• She left the parking ticket on her dashboard so the traffic warden could see she paid.

  She left the parking ticket on her dashboard so the traffic warden could see she paid.

• I forgot to pay my parking ticket, and now the fine has doubled.

  I forgot to pay my parking ticket, and now the fine has doubled.

• Insert your parking ticket into the machine at the exit gate to open the barrier.

  Insert your parking ticket into the machine at the exit gate to open the barrier.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The police gave me a parking fine paper.

  ✓ The police gave me a parking ticket.

  Learners often describe the physical paper literally. The natural term for the fine paper is a 'parking ticket'.

• ✗ I lost my parking card, so I cannot leave the garage.

  ✓ I lost my parking ticket, so I cannot leave the garage.

  Unless it is a reusable plastic card or a monthly pass, the paper slip used in garages is called a 'parking ticket'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I returned to my car and found a ___ tucked under the windshield wiper.

  💡 A fine for parking illegally.

  Show answer

  parking ticket

• Keep your ___ safe; you need to scan it to get out of the parking garage.

  💡 The receipt/slip you get when entering a garage.

  Show answer

  parking ticket