DPT Department of Parking and Traffic

Thieves, they rip you off by issuing tickets you can’t even protest the need some heroes with a baseball bats to smash their faces.

Ran in to pick up tapioca for my coworkers on Clement St. Took me all about 2 minutes. Came back to a $ 91 parking ticket. These guys are ninjas. Thanks but no thanks, SAN FRANCISCO.

I love these people! They are so cool. Check it out– In West Portal if you park near the movie theatre, near the Muni station you don’t have to put money in the meters. All you have to do is leave your car trunk open and put a menu from a pizza restaurant on your dash. I suggest you do not leave any valuables in your trunk just in case. Anyway, we got our errands done, had dinner across the street so we could keep an eye on the car. Saved ourselves about $ 4!

dpt meter man harassed me when I questioned him about a citation for parking on my own lawn. I was on the process of leaving when he pulled behind my car to block me from leaving.
Total mass hole that wouldn’t give me a break. Thanks me waterman

Fucking scums! So I got two parking citations in a roll for unpaid meters. First one yesterday Tuesday could have been an error, as my parking starts with 218, while the ticket states 219. This second time the officer wrote me down on 700xxxxx outside of 651 Valencia street, while again my parking number starts with 218 and I never ever parked so far away from my work place. This is clearly a scam!
I have receipts from all the transactions as I used the mobile app to pay for my meters, but after figuring this is a scam within the company to rob us of our money, what are the chances my citations will be dismissed by an actual judge if it escalates?

you guys are p u r e scum!!! the money from parking citations does absolutely nothing for the real people of san francisco. schools being shut down, programs for kids being cut, public housing being compromised, all while city official’s pockets get fat! fuck the dpt, just another vulture institution that preys on the have nots of san francisco.

I know people are just doing their jobs, but they’ve been doing their jobs improperly for a while now. Wrongfully cited parking tickets and any time I contest, there’s always «insufficient evidence» despite photographic evidence. Makes me feel like this agency is beyond corrupt and refuses to take responsibility or acknowledgement of their actions.
Also, found this article:
I’m sorry, your agents are incorrectly and improperly citing tickets to people and it’s the victim’s responsibility to badger the agency multiple times to correct it? Um… that’s f*ckin’ bull$hit!

So after getting a ticket for a falsely painted red zone that did not even have the stenciled in DTP on it. Rather than try to get my money back. I went ahead and paid it. And now I will be getting revenge by simply calling the very meter maids on the person’s house who likes to park his car in the red zone and called on me & anyone else who parks in the spot. I will simply wait for him to park in the red and give him a ticket. Karma is a bitch

It’s common to dislike the DPT. Anyone gets upset for getting a parking ticket, but usually the DPT are just enforcing the law. Not anymore.
It seems to me that there’s a significant increase of unfair parking tickets issued. Some meter maids are using illegal tactics to generate more revenue for the city (probably to fill a mandated quota). In my opinion, they’ve crossed the line from being law enforcement, and become total CROOKS.
For example, it’s legal to park on the street AFTER the street sweeping truck has gone by, regardless of the time limit posted. However in 2014, our cars and those from many neighborhood residents were ticketed for doing just that. The meter maid came after the street sweeping truck, and placed parking citations on the legally parked cars as if they had been blocking the street before the truck drove by. I never expected such dishonesty from a meter maid.
See «Parking is Allowed After Sweeping» section:
See link for story about other people who got unwarranted parking tickets in our neighborhood in 2014:
The city has always denied that meter maids have to meet quotas. But in the news, retired DPT employees confirmed the existence of quotas. And it seems that some meter maids are using dirty tactics to meet those quotas.
Last Sunday, a meter maid came around 6am to ambush all the cars on my street, for parking in their own driveways. Most driveways in SF are not long enough, so the rear end of an average size car blocks a portion of the sidewalk (even though people and wheelchairs can go thru, it’s technically illegal). In the past this seldom enforced old law was used to target inconsiderate drivers. Now it’s being used to steal money ($ 110) from SF residents.
It’s specially heinous that they chose Sunday morning, when most people are home (maximize number of parking tickets = more profit for DPT, I guess), a day when many park in their driveways because they want to tune up or wash their cars, or plan to go on a fun family weekend trip.
Thank you dishonest DPT jerks for ruining a nice weekend.

If I could I would Rate No Stars for Customer service!
Main reason I am posting this review is for those Folks who Don’t pay for meters and they Double park on busy mission street at the Excelsior District.
Come on people’s .wait till they start giving J-​Walking pedestrian fine tickets!!. That’s going to make the City lots of money.
As I sat inside my car I swore I seen at least 10 pedestrians walking across illegally and with children! Wow how unsafe and dangerous to risk your lives.

I am SHOCKED that this shitty organization has more than 1 star! There are so many horrid things about them. They will rip you off at every opportunity possible. One time when I had fought a ticket by mail, and they, of course, rejected it (I do not believe they ever atually overturn a ticket by mail, simply as a rule…) I went in to the office to pay it. I was out of town for a lot of the time I had to pay it, so I had to go in the last day. However, the last day I was given, was on a Sunday! Uh, the f-​ing office is certainly not open on a Sunday. So I figured it was like anything else that falls on a Sunday or Federal Holiday — like tax day, is that they would honor it the next business day. But no. Those MFs charged me a late fee. This cannot be constitutional that the last day they give me to pay is on a day that their office is not open for business. If that is not f-​ed up I don’t know what is.
My latest run in with these d-​bags involved a crazy scenario. It was one of the days last december that it was pouring — like buckets of water coming from the sky. I had to pick up a very large and heavy, gift wrapped box, for one of my clients. At the store I was at, I asked if they would help me get the box to my car and they looked at my like I’d asked them to tap dance across the street. They suggested I pull up as close to the door as poosible. I asked if they could find a garbage bag to try to cover the gift wrapping since it was too big to fit in their largest shopping bags. Again, they looked at me like I’d persisted with that tapdance request. They claimed they had no garbage bags. So I pointed to the garbage bag they had set in a basket for wet umbrellas, and they finally agreed to get me one to try. I said I’d move my car as close as possible. There was a big delivery truck out front so I got as close as possible. I ran in, and they had done nothing, so I had to wait another minute. As I was coming out, with this partially covered gift wrapped box, that was practically bigger than I, there was, of course, one of those meter-​nazi carts, I pleaseded with this woman, trying to explain the challenge I was experiencing — between the rain, the large heavy package, etc. She could not have been nastier as she handed me my $ 100+ ticket for apparently being in about 6 inches of the crosswalk (with no pedestrian in sight to use said crosswalk…)
And I know this will shock you — they rejected my letter to get the ticket cancelled…
BTW — this was at William Sonoma on Chestnut — much ruder than any other time I have been in there in the last 20 years!

I’m torn in DPT. I’ve never had issues with the meter maids. Most of my interactions have been because of the numerous amount of a-​holes who think it’s ok to block my driveway. I even put up a sign letting people know not to block. But apparently people are inconsiderate and willing to face my wrath when I catch them. My favorite is when they are blocking, I can’t get out of my driveway and they act like I’m the one who is wrong!
I’ve called DPT multiple times and when they come, they are great. Easy, explain the what’s happening, they ticket and tow (when I decide not to be as nice or am running late to work/​wedding/​birthday/​airport). Then I’m on my Merry way.
BUT, when I call after 5, it’s like pulling teeth! I can’t get anyone to come at all. I’m preeettttyyyy sure the blocking of driveways and other violations happens outside the hours of 9 – 5.
So 3 stars for the good times and the not so good.

Stop the SFMTA Mafia (aka DPT)! If you are tired of all the parking fees, fines and many absurd transportation cost in San Francisco, you can fight back here. Let’s put an end to the unregulated power SFMTA has over price gouging SF citizens.
By the way fees are now $ 98 violation + $ 485 towing. Seriously $ 583 to get your vehicle!
Vote Yes on L

They tried to tow my commercial vehicle from a commercial vehicle spot yesterday morning. I immediately stopped them when I caught it and demanded that they wait for me to show them my registration from the DMV which shows my vehicle listed as a commercial vehicle. I have never been towed for violating this law because it is a commercial vehicle. Of course, the DPT officer was rude and didn’t seem to care that she was majorly incompetent.
To add insult to injury, the tow truck tried to tow my vehicle improperly. They hooked my rear wheel drive vehicle to a tow truck that is not designated to tow vehicles like mine, improper. They dragged my truck 10 feet or more improperly. My truck can only be transported on a flat bed tow truck and can not be dragged like a Prius down the road. They actually caused damage to my vehicle by destroying the transmission.
My husband said that any damage done to the vehicle would need to be paid for, the tow truck driver and DPT officer just laughed it off knowing that they are protected under a corrupt system.
I have no problem paying tickets if I made the mistake of not moving my car for street cleaning. However, I have a problem with being towed when SF DPT can’t read that the vehicle is listed with THE CA DMV that is legally parked in a commercial spot under the time limit allotted. Further, my vehicle was damaged by this action that was sanctioned through the SF DPT MAJOR MISTAKE.
It’s even more upsetting that they didn’t care at all that they damaged the vehicle of a local small business owner. She said, «I won’t be paying anything» with a laugh.
I would like to challenge the SF DPT to know the rules behind towing a vehicle. If a vehicle is going to be towed, legally or illegally (as we all know it happens both ways), we should at least be able to trust that our vehicles will still be operable when we get them back. It’s a corrupt and incompetent system where the people that are giving out the tickets and getting paid to take peoples vehicles don’t even know how to properly ensure they are legally towing a vehicle or further (*gasp*) that there are rules for how a vehicle is towed and each vehicle should be towed according to proper safety standards & vehicle standards to ensure that the vehicle is not damaged during transport. Not damaging the vehicle is a very basic standard.
IF my vehicle had been towed all the way to SF Auto Return the way they were towing, it would have been beyond repair, according to the engineer. The SF DPT officer told me that if my vehicle is towed because of their mistake, I wouldn’t have to pay to get it back. My vehicle would have been damaged beyond repair and my small business can’t afford to replace it. Tow Trucks damage vehicles all of the time and they are protected by their contract with SF Auto Return. While SF DPT isn’t held accountable, tow companies are not held accountable and neither is SF Auto Return. They turn down the majority of their claims of damage without any due diligence. IT is the law that a rear wheel drive truck can not be dragged in park for miles, that damages the transmission. This tow truck driver KNEW he was damaging my vehicle and was more interested in getting paid.
When I called to complain to DPT, the lady directed me to 311 and to file a claim with SF Auto Return for the damage to my vehicle. She also stated that it’s harder than we think to get information from DMV so that’s why they made the mistake and messed up my vehicle. SO is that why it took TWO CALLS to verify that my vehicle was commercial? DMV doesn’t share information with SF DPT? REALLY?
Here is where you should be complaining:
Who Can I Call To Report Illegal Towing?
District Attorney Consumer Protection (415) 551‑9575
SFPD Tow Car Permit Division: (415) 553‑1115
Small Claims Court (415) 551‑5880
(Access Self-​Help Center for the San Francisco Superior Court, 75 Polk Street, Room 001)
Tow Complaint Lines
District Attorney Consumer Complaint Line (415) 551‑9595
Commercial Vehicle Unit (415) 553‑1757
I am sure DPT doesn’t care. Who is one small business owner against a very large and very protected agency working with some other very large and very protected agencies?
If this or something like this has happened to you, please send me a message. DPT officers and tow truck drivers shouldn’t be getting paid to damage vehicles.

Even giving 1 star to this corrupt agency feels wrong. Nothing like filling a meter up with quarters to last an hour and then getting a parking ticket 10 minutes later. Contested it but apparently «there is no evidence in the records to support your claim that the meter was functioning improperly at the time the citation was issued.» Can’t wait to pay $ 78 to an institution that steals! Up yours, SFMTA.
Edit: months later, I stumble upon this post i wrote. I read it over and cringe at my palpable angst. Fuck SFMTA tho.

The 5 stars reviews from employees/​friends/​relatives are funny!
We recently learned the hard way about DPT’s 2010 initiative of enforcing meters on 4 days previously deemed holidays. Seriously? The 4^th of July? Independence Day?
15 years of paying tickets here and they still find ways to outsmart me.
It seems DPT (MTA) is simply an incorrigible agency. I mean it would be one thing if they were doing good things with all that extra revenue…
Regardless, the spirit of that change is predatory, and sadly successful, in that DPT collects 80% (80%!) more ticket revenue from those holidays (versus regular business days), due to folks assuming the meters don’t run on Holidays (since for perhaps 100 years prior, they did not).
source:

Got a ticket today even if I was using pay by phone app. Caught the ticket guy when he was placing the ticket in my window and showed him my phone receipt (the parking expired 20 min after the ticket) and the fact I am compliant. He told me rudely that he doesn’t care and I should write dpt. what a waste! These people don’t know who pays their salary! No respect for the citizens, very uneducated people. The rude guy was driving small car with # 158 M679 .
Maybe his boss can send him to a class

Got 2 neighborhood parking permits for my cars and like the genius that I am put one sticker on the wrong car-​neat. I scour the website looking for ANY way to avoid going to 11 S Van Ness to no avail. I mentally prepare myself for hours of painful waiting/​arguing/​paying exorbitant fees/​needless bureaucracy…
8 minutes. I’ll say it again: 8 minutes. I went in on a Thursday around 9ish and was out the door w/​my new sticker in 8 minutes.
They have one window that everyone goes to first where you state your business and the person gives you a number. Then you sit and wait for your number/​window to be called. I was helped by a very friendly, professional, African-​American woman who was very efficient and nice. She charged me $ 16 for the replacement sticker-​fair, and I was out the door.
Hope I never have to go back but if I do I know they will be quick and efficient. Good job DPT.

The one star is for my previous experience where I was ticketed for parking legally. For your entertainment, I’m going to paste here my total overkill appeal of a more recent citation here. I don’t have a reply yet… let’s see what happens!
Greetings,
I am writing to protest citation number XXXXXXXXX, which is depicted in one of the enclosed photos.
— The reason for this request is that the sign on the meter at which I was parked was incorrect, as noted by a traffic officer I interviewed and recorded at the scene.
— As shown in an enclosed photo, and agreed by the officer, the sign showed only «Saturday» for metered parking. It did not mention «Sunday,» the day on which I was parked at the meter: Sunday, October 13, 2013.
— In the interview, the traffic officer at first denied, then admitted, that the sign was incorrect. To further help, I took a photo of her vehicle, which I am also enclosing. Additionally, I made a high quality digital sound recording of the interview, which took place on the street. I am including both a transcript of the interview and a disposable USB flash drive with a copy of the audio file (and photos) for your convenience. If it would help matters, I can also provide a witness, who is also an attorney, who witnessed the citation, the incorrect sign, the taking of photos, the interview, and the recording.
— I hope this does not come off as overkill. I had an unfortunate experience in the past where a protest was unfairly denied and I want to help this one go more smoothly.
Best Regards,
Aaron M…
October 24, 2013
Interview Transcript:
Aaron M…: So you’re saying that all the meters actually are, sorry, that all these signs, are wrong.
Officer: They’re not wrong, it’s just Monday through Friday is a white zone.
AM: And then Saturday, they’re just
O: They’re just regular meter.
AM: So, when the sign says Saturday it should also say Sunday, is that right?
O: Well, Sundays are new, so they haven’t just…
AM: OK, got it. Do you know when they changed it?
O: For Sunday meters?
AM: Yeah
O: Last year? I mean early this year. January.
AM: January. Got it. So maybe they’ll update the signs sometime, huh?
O: Eventually, hopefully.
AM: OK, I hope they do too. Alright, thanks a lot.
O: For your knowledge, yeah.
AM: OK.

I know I’m going to be in the minority here, but I think the DPT is ok. I’ve gone three times over the past year between getting permits for my motorcycle and car and paying a ticket in person. I’ve waited a while, but not too long. The people were typical government people but not altogether unhelpful. The last time this woman actually tried to go above and beyond to help me.
I’m not saying our system is messed up – I can’t believe I was charged $ 72 for an expired residential sticker having been permit holder for 12 years – but this DPT office isn’t terrible.