sfmta parking ticket payment

Dealing with That Dreaded Parking Ticket Navigating SFMTA Fines and Payments

We’ve all been there – you’re rushing to an appointment or just running a quick errand, and you pull into an open parking spot without thoroughly reading the signage. You emerge 15 minutes later to find that bright yellow envelope under your windshield wiper that makes your heart sink.you’ve gotten a parking ticket.

Getting a parking citation is never a fun experience, but it happens to the best of us. I should know – in my years living here in San Francisco, I’ve racked up my fair share of fines from the SFMTA (San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency). While my initial reaction was usually frustration, I’ve learned a few tricks to making the payment process as seamless as possible And avoiding a few future tickets along the way!

Check Out the DamageThe first thing you’ll want to do upon finding that less-than-welcome notice on your car is to review the citation. What exactly were you cited for? Is there a fine amount listed, or are additional fees still pending? Understanding the specifics will help you know what to expect during the payment phase.

Fines for parking meter violations are predetermined based on the type, while other fines may be variable or have additional fees tacked on if they go unpaid. It’s important to gather this info up front so you can budget accordingly. Nothing worse than thinking you owe $65 only to find out late penalties put you closer to $100!

Weigh Your OptionsOnce you know how much you owe, you can start exploring payment methods. Luckily in this tech-savvy city, the SFMTA offers more ways to pay a parking ticket than ever:

• In-Person: You can pay at the SFMTA Customer Service Center downtown with cash, credit/debit card, money order or cashier’s check. Just have your ticket handy for reference.

• By Mail: Send a personal check or money order to the SFMTA citation processing center with the relevant info from your ticket.

• By Phone: Call 1-866-320-8383 anytime to pay over the phone with a credit card or electronic check.

• Online: My personal favorite – log onto www.sfmta.com anytime and submit payment via credit card or eCheck.

• Via SFMTA Parking App: Download this handy app to your mobile device to pay on-the-go.

As you can see, the SFMTA offers modern payment options to fit a variety of needs and preferences. I tend to go the online route for convenience, but others may prefer paying by phone or submitting physical payments. With the breadth of choices available today, there’s no reason parking tickets can’t be paid promptly and painlessly.

Explore Payment Plan OptionsI’ll admit – sometimes even a $65 meter violation fine can be a stretch when money is tight that month. But did you know that San Francisco offers payment plans for parking tickets? If you meet eligibility criteria related to your income, you may qualify to spread out payments over a period of time rather than paying the balance all at once.

The SFMTA partners with the San Francisco Treasurer’s Office to facilitate payment plan options in cases of financial hardship. Plans allow qualified individuals to make incremental payments until the citation is paid off. There are still administrative fees involved, but this enables people to settle fines while responsibly managing other expenses.

If this appeals to you, visit sftreasurer.org to review requirements and submit an application online. Eligibility is based on factors like household income, debt-to-income ratio, number of dependents and more. Approved payment plans can be managed fully online or over the phone.

Appeal, If You DareThere’s one last recourse you can take if you truly believe your parking ticket was issued unfairly or should be forgiven…appealing to the SFMTA. I will offer a word of caution that appeals are very rarely successful. The SFMTA review unit upholds 92% of all disputed citations, so I wouldn’t get your hopes up.

That said, anyone has the right to contest a parking violation notice within 21 days for meter/sign violations or 25 days for other citations. You’ll need to submit a written explanation of why the ticket should be dismissed – new evidence, mitigating circumstances, incorrect facts on the citation, etc.

If you manage to win your appeal, the associated fines will be waived. But prepare for that to be a long shot – you typically need an extremely compelling case for the SFMTA to overturn one of their own citations. Still, the option exists if you really want to take your chances with traffic court.

Avoid Future HeadachesMoving forward, I plan to be far more diligent about properly parking and paying meters so I can leave those pesky SFMTA envelopes in the past. But should I get another ticket someday, I feel fully equipped to handle the payment process quickly and completely.

Between the array of payment methods, payment plan alternatives and right to appeal, navigating SFMTA fines does not have to be painful or financially straining. And being more mindful of parking signage will hopefully keep me from having to deal with it too often anyway!

We all mess up and land a fine now and then. The key is learning from those mistakes rather than repeating them. My wallet certainly hopes this lesson sticks!