Updates

  • SFMTA Tow that triggered this site

    Shared with permission from the original poster on Next Door.

    “I had my Sprinter-type van towed in front of my home in the Sunset District yesterday for parking longer than 2 hours with a vehicle that is over 7′ in height.

    This new law is being enforced without any street signage and is victimizing legal tax-paying residents that depend on their vehicle to get to work and/or provide services with their own small business.

    I had to pay a $108 ticket and over $600 in towing and storage even though I got to SF Impound at 7th St within an hour of two from when my van was towed.

    I actually caught the SFMTA enforcement officer begin to have it towed and when I begged and pleaded to allow me to move it, pay a fee, etc., I was denied and told “It’s already hooked up and you’ll have to get it from police impound”.

    Getting it from impound basically took all day because I paid at 7th st and had to get to Daly City where my van was actually being stored (because it’s “oversize”).

    My van is less than 20′ long and smaller than the typical Amazon van.

    I have been in touch with the Mayor’s office, District 4 representative’s (Alan Wong) office (who were empathetic and helpful as much as they could), but it’s clear that the problem is with the lack of any exception to the law meant to sweep homeless vehicles off the streets.

    I am demanding them to fulfill their promises to institute a Residential Parking Permit process so that people like me and many of my neighbors are not victimized by this discriminatory law and it’s strict and unjust enforcement.

    I live in SF and work for SF Public Works and need my vehicle to get to and from work (Muni and other public transportation options are unreliable and don’t run all hours and I occasionally have to work Graveyard shift).

    Feel free to contact Mayor Daniel Lurie’s office

    (415)554-6141daniel.lurie@sfgov.org, Representative Alan Wong (District 4);

    415-554-7460, SFMTA Viktoriya Wise- Streets Division Director viktoriya.a.wise@sfmta.com : julie.kirschbaum@sfmta.com and even Scot Weiner – https://sd11.senate.ca.gov/staff as well as anyone from the press to bring attention to this issue.”

  • Why I Started Right to Park SF

    I didn’t set out to start a website or organize anything.

    Like many people in San Francisco, I own a legally registered adventure camper van. I try to follow the rules, pay the fees that are required, and stay informed.

    I’ve owned this van for over 10 years. It’s more than just a vehicle. It’s an extension of my life, of my home. I’ve taken this van all over California with my wife and dogs, creating memories and exploring our world. It’s an amazing part of my life, and of my mental health.

    When the oversized vehicle parking restriction began to be enforced more broadly, I started hearing from people who had – apparently randomly – been towed. Sometimes towed despite having valid permits or no intention or indication of long-term habitation.

    Towing isn’t JUST an expense, or an inconvenience. It can be dangerous to tow these vans as, while they aren’t ‘huge’, they are large enough to require specialized towing equipment and experience. It’s typical to hear stories of vans being significantly damaged from improper towing. I fear for the safety of my RV.

    What stood out to me wasn’t just enforcement itself, but how difficult it was to understand what the law actually required, how it interacted with existing permits, and what options people had once they were cited or towed.

    Reasonable people, acting in good faith, were getting very different outcomes.

    Right to Park SF began as a way to slow things down, make space for clarity and help inform our lawmakers of our need for change. The goal isn’t to avoid parking rules or undermine public safety.

    It’s to understand how the current law is working in practice, to document real experiences, and to advocate for corrections where the law or its application has drifted beyond its intended purpose.

    This site is intentionally simple. It’s a place to share information, collect firsthand accounts, and support constructive civic discussion. If you’ve been affected — or if you simply want clearer rules that distinguish between unsafe conditions and lawful vehicle use — you’re welcome here.

    Change doesn’t start with shouting. It usually starts with people comparing notes and realizing they’re not alone.

    If you have a van, even if you have NOT yet been affected by the new law, I encourage you to stay in touch with us. Share your thoughts, or even your experiences with this new law.

    Japji