SFMTA Make It Easier To Contest a Citation While Going Green

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – Anyone contesting a citation for a parking or transit violation issued by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency can submit evidence in an easier, and greener way thanks to a newly launched online portal.

The new process allows the administrative review to be carried out online, instead of in the form of a written protest delivered to the SFMTA office.

Moving the process to the Internet will not only take less paper, but also less time, according to the SFMTA.

Via the portal, SFMTA customers can submit evidence related to a citation, such as a credit card receipt for meter payments or photographs of obscured signage or faded curb paint, which could support their case.

Once an individual submits evidence via an online submittal form, available at www.sfmta.com/protest, they will receive a confirmation email.

SFMTA customers can then expect to receive a response within six to eight weeks. However, if SFMTA staff needs to complete a site visit in order to verify evidence such as obscured signage or faded curb paint, it may take longer, according to the SFMTA.

Results of the administrative review will be mailed to the person submitting the protest while all other correspondence related to payment due and collections will be mailed to the vehicle's registered owner via the mailing information on file at the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Customers without reliable Internet access can still request an administrative review in writing to the customer service center.

Requests for hearings, which provide individuals with an opportunity to discuss their citation with a hearing officer, will continue only to be accepted by written request via mail or in-person at the SFMTA Customer Service Center.

SFMTA director of transportation Ed Reiskin said the portal is designed to leverage technology and hopefully reduces the "burdensome paper process" that has been endured by those protesting citations for so long.

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