This is the street cleaning sign, obscured by limbs of tree. The top of the sign is at least 8 fe...
Credit: Joanne Huspek | ©Joanne Huspek
No where in the world is the phrase "you can't fight City Hall" more applicable than in San Francisco, especially if you intend on attempting to fight a parking ticket. The City of San Francisco, which is only about 46 square miles, is much like New York City in that parking space is limited and it is therefore insanely costly to park there. It will cost you $2 for an average hour at a meter, and lot parking downtown, if you can find one close to your final destination, is outrageously priced. Even many residential areas require a parking permit from its residents, which cost $60 per year. Unlike New York City or any other major burg, where an offender may have a prayer in fighting a parking ticket, it is highly unlikely that any defendant in San Francisco is going to turn a parking violation in his or her favor.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the City of San Francisco makes about $90 million dollars a year from parking tickets alone. Recent discussions are underway to increase the fine $10 increasing the most common ticket for a street cleaning violation from $40 to $50 per ticket. And therein lies my own pitiful tale of trying to take on City Hall.
San Francisco is diligent about street cleaning. You could almost say that the City is militant about street cleaning. Every week, each street is cleaned twice, one day on one side, then another day on the other. It is true that signs are posted on every street outlining what day and between what time street cleaning will commence. Smart residents with automobiles and no off-street parking are savvy in eluding parking enforcement, which literally sweeps (pun intended) through the area during street cleaning days, methodically churning out $40 parking tickets to those hapless fools who are caught unawares.
Consider me a hapless fool.
During July 2005, we were moving my son into his shared home where he was going to reside while in college. I had rented a car, and it was full of his personal effects. We dropped a load off, and headed off to Target to get more household equipment that he was going to need.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the City of San Francisco makes about $90 million dollars a year from parking tickets alone. Recent discussions are underway to increase the fine $10 increasing the most common ticket for a street cleaning violation from $40 to $50 per ticket. And therein lies my own pitiful tale of trying to take on City Hall.
San Francisco is diligent about street cleaning. You could almost say that the City is militant about street cleaning. Every week, each street is cleaned twice, one day on one side, then another day on the other. It is true that signs are posted on every street outlining what day and between what time street cleaning will commence. Smart residents with automobiles and no off-street parking are savvy in eluding parking enforcement, which literally sweeps (pun intended) through the area during street cleaning days, methodically churning out $40 parking tickets to those hapless fools who are caught unawares.
Consider me a hapless fool.
During July 2005, we were moving my son into his shared home where he was going to reside while in college. I had rented a car, and it was full of his personal effects. We dropped a load off, and headed off to Target to get more household equipment that he was going to need.
Comments
Wanda F
(Guest)
(Guest)
01/21/2010
Debbie I feel your pain as I have been there myself. Well sort of. I hope you at least get a reduction . As a person with what sounds like a fixed income might work to your advantage. I have to say though that parking "accidentally " is an oxymoron in my book. Not looking for/searching out postings on hours and limits for parking in an area is simply hazardous to your wallet & DMV status. Remember ignorance is no excuse in the eyes of the law. You might checkout www.parkingticket.com, I hope you get out of it, good luck!
WandaF
(Guest)
(Guest)
01/21/2010
Street cleaning is a big deal in SF and the Bay Area. I think it is actually a ploy to keep cars from being left in neighborhoods for extended periods of time.. like the 2 hour time limits/neighborhood stickers. www.parkingticket.com
Debbie
(Guest)
(Guest)
09/11/2009
Thank you for your encouragement, but unfortunately I think I was in violation even if it was accidental. There was a sign, I just didn't see it. I still might contest it to see if I can get a reduction in the fines. $451 for a commute hour towing zone violation.
Debbie
(Guest)
(Guest)
09/11/2009
I think I am screwed. I am thinking about requesting a towing hearing to contest my parking violation for a reduction of the ticket and towing fines, even if I was in violation.
Thursday September 10 2009, I accidentally parked in a spot outside the Modern Art Museum on 3rd and Mission, that would become a commute hour towing zone several hours later. I didn't see the sign which was located several parking spots behind me, until I left the Museum and saw that my car was gone.
Apparently it had been towed around 3:30 about 1/2 hour before I left the museum. So I found out where it was towed and took a bus there immediately. I was charged $373 for the tow (which I paid) and I owe another $78 for the parking ticket for a total of $451!!! I got my car back, but wow, that seems excessive for accidentally leaving my car in the wrong place at the wrong time! I am disabled and on Social Security, and that is more than half of my monthly income.
D
(Guest)
(Guest)
08/06/2009
i've won 1 protest, with 5 pending. It's worth it to protest them all, because the fine does not increase, it takes about 6 months to process it, and there will be no "holds" at the DMV because the ticket is under review technically and not outstanding
anthony
(Guest)
(Guest)
06/16/2009
i think this is abogus or outdated article to say the least, obviously if you were in violation of the law then you deserve to get a ticket. however i have received 3 tickets while not being in violation of the law and i am fighting all of them. i have received 6 tickets so far this year 3 i paid because i was in violation. 3 i was not and am fighting. luckily i am self employed and can fight these things. i assure you that it;s a pain in the ass but if you are truly innocent i think you should fight. i have had one dismissed so far just fighting through mail and i am fighting the others through mail as well. don't give up the parking people i think get a commission on the parking tickets they write which menas they write them even if they arent sure whather or not you're in violation of the law, most people just pay parking tickets. luckily i am a lawyer and if it comes to it i will fight them in a court of law and win. i suggest everybody that gets a ticket and they know it
john
(Guest)
(Guest)
04/03/2009
I live in the outer sunset in san francisco and had a pretty terrible encounter with the DPT moments ago.. I had just started my car the was parked in front of the local coffee shop and just pulling out and had to abruptly slam on my breaks spilling my coffee as one of the street cleaning ticket ladies blocked me in the spot as i was illegally parked (although technically i hadn't even parked), she made me sit for 3 minutes while she chatted on her radio and typed out my ticket. I was so shocked and she refused to speak a word to me other than the "I'm sure this wasn't the first time you've broken the law" that she squeezed in under her breath as she handed my the ticket. $50 now and i was just laid-off, i hope she sleeps well at night, because I won't :(
abuse of power
(Guest)
(Guest)
03/07/2009
I heard the city of San Francisco has a
150,000,000 income on traffic tickets.
Now with the budget deficit, the police is merciless. I want to leave this city and never come back here again.
San Francisco is a corrupted city. The streets do not belong to the people
thinking
(Guest)
(Guest)
09/24/2008
Any idea where the 90 millions go in parking tickets go?
Abuse of power is rampant at city, state and federal level.
Nicole
(Guest)
(Guest)
05/19/2008
I live in such a small place that parking tickets are nearly unheard of. While I sympathize with the loss of your $40...surely being able to relay this tale to us was worth something?
Nicely written
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