Comments on: I’m tired of San Francisco Parking Tickets

By: hy.there

hy.there — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 07:53:52 +0000

HI!

Can anyone give me suggestions on the best way to fight a citation for parking in a bus zone. I realize I actually did park there (for less than 5 minutes) but the VIN # was not included, only my license plate number, make and model and color of the car. IN the space for a VIN# it says “can not read” which is not true becasue it is easily readable. I think the parking natzi just wanted to print the ticket as fast as possible knowing that I would be back in my car momentarily.

Any helpful hints?

By: polamil

polamil — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 23:02:27 +0000

After looking around on the web a bit, I think “TC202 Parking meter/OUT Down” simply means this is a parking meter violation, which occurred OUTSIDE of DOWNTOWN”. Downtown parking fines are slightly higher. In other words I don’t think this violation in any way indicates a problem with the meter itself.

By: Deedub

Deedub — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 03:28:12 +0000

The comments here are the best argument for Stoic or Buddhist or Christian detachment I’ve seen in years. Without complaining, we pay $10 for watered down drinks and $200 for pretentious dinners and buy lottery tickets with 1 in a million chances. Then we hang out in the car in front of a bus stop talking on the cell phone and get furious that we get ticketed.

When it happens to me I get mad too, like everyone else. I hate getting those damn tickets MORE than you all. I hate it so much that when I park in front of the bus stop, I keep an eye on the rear view mirror. Unless you really zone out, you can always move before they pull up and start writing the ticket. It’s worked for 25 years. So far, so good. I still park illegally when I feel like it. It’s cheaper than Reno or Vegas.

One person complained about getting double-parking tickets 3 times on the same block. Dude, you are one SERIOUS optimist! Maybe that’s not such a good block to double-park on. Consider blocking traffic on a different block for a change.

You say there was graffiti on the sign? Great: take a picture and get a hearing. If you really can’t read it, you might get a break. You weren’t really encroaching on the curb cut for the disabled? Great: take a picture and get a hearing. If you really weren’t sticking out, you might get a break.

If you really hate the rules, try buying an old clunker and never registering it. Park anywhere you like till they tow it away, then buy another. Tony Serra used this method for awhile.

To the guy who’s made about the tickets in the private parking lot: those are fake tickets. They’re impersonating DTP (what would be more humiliating that having to pretend to be as important a person as a meter maid?). You don’t have to pay, and you can tell the store manager how irritating it is to get those things. In the long run, the owner will put up gates and charge everyone to park there, including the real customers. Is this better? You decide.

By: amystetson

amystetson — Sun, 18 May 2008 02:03:41 +0000

Mark,
I’d like to say that one way to get their attention would be to stage a protest. I think that people would turn out in droves for “Tell the DPW What You Really Think Day.” These smug bastards sit around and delude themselves into believing that they’re somehow “really helping” the people of the city, and ignoring the basic truth that no one with any respect for humanity should ever work for the DPW. I’m trying the VIN Defense, we’ll see if these scum bags rescind the ticket.

Now when they come back with there (effortless) “no” answer, is there a way to have the judge or referee “reviewed” for not upholding the law? Can we get these bastards disbarred?

By: sj-visitor

sj-visitor — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 06:09:29 +0000

I sent in my protest letter for my non-existent ticket. In turn I receive a letter from SFMTA/DPT that says that due to an increase in parking citation protests, my review may take 4 months.

Either the city is being a bunch of lazy asses, or good folks like you are protesting your citations, making the city work harder for their money.

By: Demo man

Demo man — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 21:28:36 +0000

I have a good one for you, and im going looking for more info on it. but the cushmans that the meter people drive is considered to be a motorcycle, so the person driving it told me.
Well they dont wear a DOT aproved helmet like im required to wear while on my motorcycle. they are using a Bell brand bicycle helmet. I called bell and asked if any of there bicycle helmets were DOT approved, and they said that they werent.
I scream foul here.

By: Heidi

Heidi — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 23:07:37 +0000

I have just recieved a $75.00 ticket. I was parked at a space on Funston street in the Inner Richmond. The ticket was for blocking a drive way. I was not blocking the driveway and took photos of my car to prove it. I will fight this ticket but I don’t have I much hope of getting it dropped. I have those really annoying neighbors that call and complain too. The ticket stated there was a complaint. Is it true that the officer has to issue a ticket if there is a complaint? Can’t they use their best judgement?I have gone to a hearing for this once before. The officer that issued the ticket is NOT required to attend hearings and in a situation where it’s your word against the officers they will always error on the officers side, even though they are not at the hearing. It seems you actually have to go to court (not just a hearing) if you want anything to happen. On a side note this may be a hot tip: I was told by a meter maid that if I claimed I was having car trouble in my protest for a ticket they would drop the ticket. I did this once and they did in fact drop the ticket but they would not disclose a reason for doing
so. Great Site. Thanks for letting me release my rage.
-Heidi

By: SF Resident

SF Resident — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 09:29:23 +0000

I’ve been ticketed by DPT a few times, a few times unfairly (fast running meter mostly). And yes, it’s a PITA to fight a ticket.

But seriously, most of the complaints here are quite ludicris. Hey, learn to READ the signs. Respect people’s driveways. If you’re stopping at a bus stop don’t sit their listening to loud music and yapping on the phone but BE ATTENTIVE SINCE YOUR IN THE WRONG! If you didn’t get your resident sticker, why are you still parking there day after day after being ticketed without getting some sort of resolution immediately!

COMMON SENSE saves you lots of money! I’ve been driving in the city for 15+ years and I can not say I’ve been “unjustly” ticketed other than fast running meters wich is not really the PCO’s fault. I know parking is a BIT** in the city, but that’s the price of being where everyone wants to be.

By: jey

jey — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 18:14:24 +0000

If signs are missing, eligible, etc., you should appeal!

CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO TRAFFIC CODE

ARTICLE 3: OBEDIENCE TO SIGNS AND STOPPING OR PARKING

SEC. 40. SIGNS REQUIRED.
No provisions of this Code requiring signs shall be enforceable against the alleged violator if at the time and place of the alleged violation the sign required by this Code is not in position and sufficiently legible to be seen by an ordinarily observant person.
(Ord. 890, App. 10/24/40)

SEC. 42. SIGNS, LOCATION OF.
Where parking limitations are provided for in this Code, signs shall be erected and maintained not more than 200 feet apart, indicating by legible letters, words and figures the hours prescribed for said parking limitations within 100 feet on either side of the sign, except that such signs need not be placed within the boundaries of the grounds of a public institution, provided signs stating the parking limitations within such boundaries are erected at each entrance to the grounds of such public institution.
(Amended by Ord. 58-74, App. 1/23/74; Ord. 239-00, File No. 001598, App. 10/20/2000)

By: JMS

JMS — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 21:05:41 +0000

Despite hours of trying, I’ve been unable to find a real set of parking rules online. For example I got a ticket indicating I’d violated TC315a – the residential permit law. Some people say that this law means that you have to move your car at least a block away rather than moving and reparking on the same block. I can’t find a description of what the law exactly is online – I can just find several pages indicating the fine. municode.com doesn’t have it, nor does the SF government site. Do I actually have to go to the library to figure out what the rules are?