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statute of limitationsUnited States · Montana (Statewide)Difficulty: Easy

One-Year SOL on Misdemeanors and Municipal Violations (MCA §45-1-205)

Under MCA §45-1-205(2)(b), misdemeanors must be prosecuted within one year of the offense. Parking violations, as petty offenses or misdemeanors under municipal code, are subject to this short limitation period. Montana's 1-year SOL is among the shortest in the nation, making stale citations particularly vulnerable.

Legal basis

MCA §45-1-205 (statute of limitations)

Sample appeal wording

TO: [CITY/COLLECTOR] RE: Citation #[NUMBER] - Montana 1-Year Statute of Limitations Under MCA §45-1-205, misdemeanors must be prosecuted within one (1) year of the offense. This citation, dated [DATE], is well beyond that period and is time-barred as a matter of law. I demand: (1) cancellation; (2) removal of holds and fees; (3) cessation of collection activity. Any continued collection violates the FDCPA, 15 U.S.C. §1692e. [NAME] [DATE]

Replace [PARKING DATE], [NtK DATE] etc. with your own dates before sending.

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