Posts Tagged ‘citation’
Tuesday, January 12th, 2010
Via Streetsblog SF (which is having a fun-raiser party January 21st, bring money if you want) comes news of the new, unofficial San Francisco Department of Sidewalk Parking blog.
Read the cheery welcoming message from the Commissioner of Concrete. See? He’s gunning for you, sidewalk parkers.
The DSP operates in District 11, but you can find examples of sidewalk parking all over town. As seen in District 5 on Ashbury Street:
Click to expand
NB: When this self-appointed “commissioner” talks of getting an offending vehicle “removed” he means towed away - towed away with extreme prejudice. Anybody who calls in a tow on a sidewalked-parked car on his or her own street should be prepared for possible blowback. (Those who live in or rent out illegal in-law apartments might very well get ratted out by an irate sidewalk parker, just saying.) Anonymity recommended.
Is it my hobby to ferret out sidewalk parkers and then call DPT at (415) 553-1200 for the ticket /towaway patrol? No.
On the other hand, do I support homeowners who think they own the sidewalk in front of their homes? No.
Can one person change the culture of sidewalk parking in one section of San Francisco via a persistent campaign? Yes, it’s possible.
Bon Courage, San Francisco Department of Sidewalk Parking!
Tags: (415), 11, 5, 553-1200, blog, car, citation, commissioner, concrete, department of sidewalk parking, district, illegal, park, parking, parking control officer, pco, ped, pedestrian, San Francisco, sidewalk, sunset, ticket, tow, towaway, vehicle
Posted in cars | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, January 6th, 2010
The failings of the drivers of San Francisco are well-documented…
…but what about pedestrians - how are they doing?
Not well, based upon their behavior in the Financh and other nearby districts. Let’s take a look at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s “Safety Toolbox: Common Violations for Pedestrian-Involved Collisions” for some help:
Common pedestrian-at-fault violations
The problem is that lots of peds violate California Vehicle Code Section 21451(c) and 21456(a) without knowing it. That is, they routinely enter crosswalks immediately after their light turns green. That’s a no-no in CA unless you make sure that traffic has cleared the intersection first.
“21451(c) A pedestrian facing a circular green signal… may proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk, but shall yield the right-of-way to vehicles lawfully within the intersection at the time that signal is first shown.”
“21456 Whenever a pedestrian control signal showing the words “WALK” or “WAIT” or “DONT WALK” or other approved symbol is in place, the signal shall indicate as follows: (a) “WALK” or approved “Walking Person” symbol. A pedestrian facing the signal may proceed across the roadway in the direction of the signal, but shall yield the right-of-way to vehicles lawfully within the intersection at the time that signal is first shown.”
Can a ped get a ticket for blocking a car? Yes, but I’ve never heard of it. Prices start at $108 - I’m sure that they can easily exceed that what with court fees and whatnot.
21451(c,d) Green Signal–Pedestrian Responsibilities $108.00
So, green does not mean go. Green means go after the intersection has cleared – this applies to pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, everybody.
The real concern for pedestrians is them being held at fault after being hit by a vehicle. The issue turns on whether the driver entered into the intersection on a red light or not. When you encounter Third Street and Market, where cars need to travel 175+ feet to clear the intersection, extra vigilance is needed. The only thing keeping most pedestrians from immediately crossing on a green is a caravan a slowly moving cars trying to clear the intersection.
So you can continue living your life thinking that cars are running red lights at every busy intersection during every light cycle, or you can learn the PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK DUTIES in California.
Your choice, ped.
Tags: 21451, 21451(c), 21456, 21456(a), cars, citation, cvc, drivers, green, intersection, law, mrket, pedestrian, red, San Francisco, street, third, ticket, Vehicle Code, vehicles, yellow
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, November 4th, 2009
I mean, sure, Fed-Ex makes money on deliveries in San Francisco, but what if you subtract out the amount of dough they pay daily to the DPT? Too bad delivery vehicles don’t have a place to park or something.
This aging Ford van got pwned with two parking tickets in one day down in the Financial District:
Poor FedEx!
Tags: $78, citation, district, double parking, DPT, fedex, financial, meter maiod, mta, parking control officer, pco, sfdpt, SFMTA, ticket, truck, united parcel service, UPS
Posted in government | 2 Comments »
Thursday, September 3rd, 2009
Here’s the scene in the Financial District – why does the UPS driver double park instead of using the space near the curb? Double parking can get you a ticket, right? The orange cone is a nice touch, however….
Uh oh, this doesn’t look good. Do UPS drivers really try to fool the DPT ticket issuers with the old I-already-got-a-ticket routine? Apparently.
Oh well, that’s another $78 down the drain. Did this truck get two tickets yesterday?
That’s what you might conclude after checking the DPT website for online ticketing information.
Does UPS currently owe thousands of dollars to S.F. for illegal parking? Yes.
But if it’s only $2000 a day or so, well that’s just the cost of doing business in the big city, right?
Tags: $78, citation, district, double parking, DPT, financial, meter maiod, mta, parking control officer, pco, sfdpt, SFMTA, ticket, truck, united parcel service, UPS
Posted in government | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, August 4th, 2009
See this trendy Smart Car parked all perpendicularly to the curb in San Francisco’s Western Addition / NOPA area? Well don’t be surprised if you see it and others like it get cited for illegal parking.
That’s right, what’s encouraged in Paris, France will get you a citation in the 415.
Click to expand:
Cf. Or this way, don’t park this way.
The gritty nitty:
CA Vehicle Code: 22502. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter every vehicle stopped or parked upon a roadway where there are adjacent curbs shall be stopped or parked with the right-hand wheels of such vehicle parallel with and within 18 inches of the right-hand curb…
So don’t be surprised when a DPT SFMTA PCO KO’s U ASAP.
TTFN.
Tags: 22502, benz, ca, california, car, citation, code, cvc, dmv, dpr, illegal, Mercedes, meter maid, parallel, parking, pco, perpendicular, SFMTA, smart, smart ca, ticket, vehicle
Posted in cars | 2 Comments »
Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
Remember this scene from last year, when the Google Maps car got pulled over in San Francisco’s Presidio?
Click to expand:
Courtesy of damianspain of the San Francisco Bay area. Thanks Damian!
Turns out that the Googler got ticketed, but not for a moving violation. Apparently, Google didn’t feel the need to secure a permit to photograph this National Park for commercial purposes, even after discussing the issue with the Presidio Trust. So, somebody called the federales and Google got an expensive citation.
Rich Google can afford to plant 800 pound “pins” all over town for the promotion of Google’s My Favorite Places, but it can’t see its way to clear to get a necessary permit to operate on federal land? Mmmm.
Now, go here to see the hot pursuit by this United States Park Police Officer. Scroll around and keep clicking- you’ll see the whole chase all the way up Montgomery Street.
Pull over, Google! The feds want to chat:
“I’m in Hot Pursuit! Choo choo! Kik-kik-kyah, I love it! I love it!” Or kyew kyew, either way.
But if Google can afford $7000 Japanese toilets for all its bathroom stalls, then it can probably afford the occasional citation.
Keep up the good work, Googoo!
Tags: bust, busted, california, car, citation, commercial, federal, google, hybrid, mapping, maps, my favorite places, national, park, permit, piolice, police, presidio, prius, pulled over, red, ticket, toyota, trust, United States, use
Posted in cars | Comments Off
Monday, June 1st, 2009
Valencia Street in the Mission used to have two lanes in both directions, but now it has Category II bike lanes and a center lane that’s supposed to be used for turns. The problem is that drivers view the turning lane as a 13-foot-wide, mile-and-half-long parking lot.
As here, where the driver of this black $100,000 Mercedes Benz Geländewagen is backing up the northbound lane to claim the prize he just passed by. Was the MUNI bus delayed by this maneuver of the G-Wagon? A little, but Parking Wherever The Hell You Want is Your Right as a San Franciscan, right?
Click to expand:
Do people get tickets for this? People do.
Occasionally.
Tags: benz, bus, citation, district, g-class, g-classe, g-wagen, g-wagon, Geländewagen, Mercedes, mission, mission district, mta, Muni, parallel, park, parkin, SFMTA, ticket, valencia
Posted in cars | 6 Comments »
Sunday, May 10th, 2009
The California Highway Patrol (they’re hiring!) takes a dim view of you trying to save 5, 10, 20 minutes by using this “bus only” flyover westbound to get past the Bay Bridge toll plaza. So much so, they’ll even hang out near the thing on Mother’s Day in order to hand out $271 citations.
Personally, I’ve looked at the signs and I can’t really figure out if 3+ person carpools are allowed on this empty flyover all the time or just during primetime M-F. But oh well.
Now if you’re The Feds, with a tiresome, predictable blacked-out SUV, then you’re in luck. Please drive through. Click to expand:
But if YOU drive past these CHP officers, then you’ll be met by some more on the other side.
Ka ching. That’s how they get you…
Tags: $271, action, Bay, bridge, california, california hghway patrol, carpool, chp, citation, cops, enforcement, feds, flyover, highway, lane, mothers day, Oakland, patrol, police, San Francisco, state, ticket, toll plaza, westbound
Posted in crime | Comments Off
Saturday, April 25th, 2009
Of course you all already know about the 1994-1996 Chevrolet Impala SS General Monkeybusiness B-Body. This one here impresses not with the size of the wheels fitted underneath, but with the sheer parking audacity of completely blocking a fairly wide sidewalk in broad daylight.
What’s stopping somebody from calling 415-553-1200 (dispatch - blocked driveways, sidewalks, etc.) or 311? Nothing, that’s why this parking strategy isn’t sustainable, that’s why drivers generally don’t make a habit of doing this kind of thing. (Personally, it’s not my style to dial, but for some people, it is - see below)
Click to expand
I would agree that it’s probably no picnic trying to park an 18-foot-long vehicle at night on the Streets of San Francisco, but your ride will eventaully get vandalized, ticketed, towed, whatever, depending on the neighborhood. For example, the evening dog walkers of Specific Whites Pacific Heights all have DPT’s phone numbers preprogrammed into their cellies. They’re simply waiting to see something like this blocking their path.
Just saying.
Tags: (415), 311, 415-553-1200, 553-1200, b car, B., block, blocked, blocking, body, california, call, car, cell, cellular, Chevrolet, chevy, citation, department, dial, dispatch, DPT, driveways, enforcement, general monkeybusiness, general motors, gm, impala, meter maid, mta, number, pacific heights, parking, parking control officer, pco, phone, San Francisco, SFPD, sidewalk, specific whites, ss, ticket, towed, transit
Posted in cars | 1 Comment »
Monday, April 20th, 2009
Now if the SFPD drops by, then the workers at this Lucky Supermarket get on the P.A. system to let the customers know that they’re 30 seconds away from a “$500 parking ticket.”
Otherwise, it’s clear sailing. Que bueno!
Click to expand.
Tags: avenue, citation, fire lane, fulton, lucky, masonic, NOPA, pco, sffd, SFPD, street, supermarket, ticket, western addition
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
