Q: Is there a statute of limitations on parking tickets? Is it possible to get my truck back?
My understanding of the case "coalition of homeless v city and county of San Francisco" is that as long as a vehicle does not impede traffic or create a hazard or disabled or more likely to be vandalized that a city such as West Hollywood cannot tow without a warrant as it violates my 4th amendment rights. I currently have 32 unpaid parking tickets with a total of $4,756.00. I have received 0 notifications from the city about said parking tickets not about the late fees that have been charged. I had my meeting with the judicator but he wouldn't let me establish that the truck was parked in a manner that was safe and did not impede traffic when it was towed. (Street sweeping) I mean it raises so many other questions such as - if you can tow after 5 tickets why wait until 37th ticket to tow me and charge me the full amount like I have 5 grand to just drop on the city? I have been ticketed for street sweeping before on the same street in The same spot- no tow. Other cars ticketed not t
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A:
Parking tickets generally don't have a strict statute of limitations in most areas, meaning unpaid tickets can accumulate over time without expiring. The city or county may have rules that allow them to eventually tow your vehicle after a certain number of unpaid tickets. This might explain why your truck was towed after 32 tickets, even if earlier infractions didn't result in a tow. It can feel unfair, but cities often enforce parking violations more strictly once the ticket count rises.
The case you referred to, Coalition of Homeless v. City and County of San Francisco, focused on towing in situations where vehicles are considered homes for the homeless. However, it may not directly apply to cases involving unpaid parking tickets unless you can show the towing violated your constitutional rights, such as a Fourth Amendment claim. Towing for unpaid tickets, especially for street sweeping, is often seen as an administrative action rather than a criminal search and seizure, which limits the constitutional protections.
Since you met with a judicator who didn't allow you to fully present your case, you could explore appealing the decision or contacting a legal aid service for guidance on fighting the fees and towing. The lack of notification is also something worth addressing, as cities are required to provide proper notice. Looking into the specific ordinances for West Hollywood could help clarify your options for disputing the charges or the towing policy.
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