$900 San Francisco Parking Ticket Leads to Federal Case

Parking is serious business in San Francisco, where a dispute over a parking ticket has now boiled over into a federal lawsuit.

Patrick C. White and Amelia Kalnoki parked their SUV on Second Street in South of Market on Feb. 16, according to the San Francisco Examiner.When they returned to their vehicle, parked in a disabled spot, with their disabled placard visible, they discovered a parking ticket.

And not just any ticket.

They were cited for three violations: not curbing their wheels on a hill, parking at an expired meter, and parking in a disabled spot with no permit, the newspaper reported. That's enough for $880  in fines.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency later removed two out of the three violations, citing a "data entry error," the newspaper reported. But the curbing wheels violation remains.

As does the lawsuit. Kalnoki, who has "advanced systemic lupus erythematosus," says that the SFMTA upheld the ticket after an initial protest.

City officials say they are confident that they will prevail on the lawsuit.