Trolls Might Exploit a Legal Loophole to Penalize You for Parking in Your Own Driveway | Carscoops

      Residents of San Francisco are reporting instances of receiving incorrect parking tickets following complaints from other locals.

      According to the reports, these violations are minor, and residents assert that they are not obstructing access in any way.

      Attorney Steve Lehto has raised concerns regarding due process and the implications of the Sixth Amendment.

      Parking citations are a common nuisance in any urban area, but some San Francisco residents are frustrated not by parking in inappropriate locations, but by receiving tickets for parking in their own driveways. They are not upset about changes to daylighting or street parking regulations but claim they are legally parked and still facing penalties.

      Adding to the confusion, these tickets are not the result of a new parking policy or heightened enforcement. They are instead initiated by reports from residents. The city is not actively monitoring this type of violation; it is simply responding to complaints filed by locals.

      San Francisco operates a non-emergency reporting system called 311, which allows citizens to report illegal activities. In this instance, the city claims it is not targeting anyone but is responding to these 311 calls.

      Driveways Being Targeted

      Reports indicate that residents in Mission Bay are receiving parking tickets, many exceeding $100, for illegal parking. However, they are not occupying spaces haphazardly; they are parking in their own driveways.

      So why are they receiving tickets? It appears that they are blocking the sidewalk to a degree that makes their parking technically illegal. Video footage obtained by NBC indicates that the extent of the blockage is laughable. “There’s like 10 feet of open space. It’s not causing a problem for anyone with accessibility issues,” said local resident David Chen. “It’s literally someone trying to feel good by submitting a complaint, essentially trolling us and getting us tickets.”

      Some speculate that a new neighbor might be behind the complaints, while others are more concerned about the influx of tickets. Residents believe that whoever is submitting the photos is using the same image repeatedly, which is only one of the potential issues at play.

      Emerging Legal Concerns

      Interestingly, noted attorney Steve Lehto has pointed out several legal challenges related to these tickets. Concerns arise about the timing and methods of photo collection, and the Sixth Amendment guarantees a citizen’s right to confront their accuser.

      This means that if the person who took the photo does not appear in court, the ticket should be dismissed. It remains to be seen if residents will invoke this right or continue paying the fines.