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Contribute & Contact
Have nice photographs of sidewalk parking and blight? Have any other tips, tricks, and even criticism? Let the Department have it.
Hall of shame
What you can do
Report sidewalk parking at the DPT Dispatch number:
415-553-1200
In most cases, they will come and ticket all cars parked on the sidewalk on the entire block. The tickets will say that they are due to a complaint, but they will NOT identify you in any way. It is our Department's position that it's best to not confront people about their sidewalk parking before you call the DPT, because they might figure out it was you who called and be misguided enough to retaliate against your person or property.
The SFDSP also recommends that you not feel bad for calling the DPT on your fellow residents. It is they who are breaking the law and imposing their will on the rest of the neighborhood, by endangering others, and by degrading the looks and value of the public realm for their own short-term gain. The sidewalks are public space and it is illegal to park on any portion of it. The tickets are well deserved and also mean revenue for the city. If you don't complain to the authorities, if you don't make it known that you don't want cars on the sidewalks, nothing will ever change. In DPT spokesperson Maggie Lynch's own words:
"If there's a problem on your street, draw our attention to it. Let us know."
We also encourage you to send emails to the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors. The more political pressure there is in favor of a crack down on sidewalk parking, the higher the chances of things actually changing.
What the law says
California Vehicle Code Section 22500:
No person shall stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle whether attended or unattended, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a peace officer or official traffic control device, in any of the following places:
[...]
(f) On any portion of a sidewalk, or with the body of the vehicle extending over any portion of a sidewalk, except electric carts when authorized by local ordinance, as specified in Section 21114.5. Lights, mirrors, or devices that are required to be mounted upon a vehicle under this code may extend from the body of the vehicle over the sidewalk to a distance of not more than 10 inches.
Links
Blog Archive
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2010
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January
(43)
- List DPT calls for parking offenses
- Didn't quite fit in the garage
- More about sidewalks and front yards
- What to do when street parking is verboten? Easy.....
- Used car lot
- My other car is a bike... (and screw pedestrians)....
- Here's the sad thing:
- Hey... I left some room there in the front!
- Just beautiful!
- Does the sidewalk parking law apply to... boats?
- Very neighborly
- The three musketeers
- I wonder about the significance of the cone
- Two more sleeping beauties
- Oh the irony
- More driveway parkers
- The driveway myth
- None shall pass!
- Technically, this car is not on the sidewalk...
- How much is a sidewalk parking ticket?
- SFMTA Flyers - use or not?
- Parking lot ahead - turn sharp left
- Trailer trash
- The container shrub adds a nice touch of green
- It's morning in America
- Some don't even remove their front garden
- A truck that's almost bigger than the house
- Smack in the middle
- What pangs of conscience?
- She ain't going nowhere
- Lone ranger
- How long until the tree is gone?
- Outlier
- Mr. T
- Pangs of conscience?
- Long-term car storage
- Geometric games
- Halfway job
- Real Americans park their truck on the sidewalk
- At least they left the trees.... for now.
- SUV right-of-way
- There is a good discussion of the concreting over ...
- Welcome from Commissioner Concrete!
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January
(43)
While it might not be the prettiest sight, I think both Mazdas might be parked legally, depending on where that house's property line ends. Is there a way to look that up?
ReplyDeleteThat house certainly has zero setback. If the DPT were to called this address, they would ticket them all, as they should. Property lines can be looked up in city records. Feel free to try and find me a house like this where part of the sidewalk able to accommodate two cars, is within the property line.
ReplyDeleteWhat about the yellow house next to it with the staircase sticking out? Could one park a Smart car parallel to the staircase? I'm not at all familiar with easments and setbacks, but I am curious.
ReplyDeleteA good question. I am not a lawyer, but I would guess that this is some sort of permanent easement. I will try to find out more, but if anyone knows, please let us know.
ReplyDeleteYou need to be a little more careful distinguishing between privately-owned driveways and public sidewalks. Many, many buildings in San Francisco are set back from the lot line. For example, nearly all the Victorians in Noe Valley are. You can usually tell where the lot ends by the staircase. My guess is that the staircase on the yellow house is a similar situation. It's not a permanent easement. It's part of the lot. So parking a smart car or ultra-compact there would be legal. (A longer car that sticks out over the public sidewalk, obviously, is not.)
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, I love the blog. Good work!