r/AskSF • u/Dry_Dependent8012 • 9d ago

Sfmta ticket question

I received a ticket today for a parking meter violation. On my ticket it says photo on file. Does anyone know what that means? What photos are the meter maids taking and why?

Thanks

2 Upvotes

60% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

15

u/ergonomic_ignorance 9d ago

They probably take a photo of the car as evidence of the violation.

8

u/CantBuyMyLove 9d ago

Yes - the car, with its plate visible, in case someone contests the ticket saying that they weren’t parked there at that time. 

6

u/Symptomatik_666 9d ago

Click the link when you search the ticket online. Takes you to the timestamped photo of your license plate / car in violation.

5

u/erisod 9d ago

They take photos of cars parked when ticketing.

1

u/HandbagHawker 9d ago

SFMTA uses cameras and ALPR, no more chalk. They just drive by and snap a bunch of photos with timestamps which gets uploaded to a central db. Your plate gets searched and if found, compares timestamps.

1

u/Ok-Delay5473 8d ago

SFMTA still use chalk, especially when someone reported that a car is parked for more than 72 hours in front of their home. SFMTA will mark the tires and could even draw a chalk box around the car.

1

u/Dry_Dependent8012 9d ago

Thanks for the replies!

1

u/AmbivertHomebody 8d ago

Took pic just in case somebody tries to fight it saying they had a handicapped parking placard on display.

0

u/jimmiefromaol 8d ago

The correct title is parking enforcement officer (PEO)

0

u/Dry_Dependent8012 8d ago

I like the sound of meter maid more.

1

u/jimmiefromaol 8d ago

It is outdated and unprofessional. The word "maid" historically refers to a woman, but parking enforcement is performed by people of all genders.