Got pulled over on 19th Avenue or US-101 through the city? Cited near the Bay Bridge approach on I-80 or caught in a one-way violation downtown? SFPD Vision Zero corridors and tourist-heavy streets see concentrated enforcement throughout the year.
Contest remotely — no lawyer, no court appearance, no rate hike.
Data from cases filed in San Francisco over the past 12 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
A lot more than the number on the citation. A 1–15 mph over ticket starts at $238, but SF County surcharges push the total to $490–$600+. Add 1–3 years of insurance rate increases and the real cost often reaches $2,000–$4,000. SF also has strict Vision Zero enforcement, meaning officers are actively instructed to write more tickets on designated corridors. Contesting and winning avoids the conviction — and the rate hike.
Yes. Lombard Street (especially the famous "crooked" block between Hyde & Leavenworth) is heavily patrolled for speeding and improper turns. Tourist citations are common. Our service is ideal—you contest by mail from home, no need to drive back to SF. Common defenses include obscured signage and confusing traffic patterns.
No. "Curb your wheels" (VC 22500) is a parking violation, not a moving violation. remote written defense only applies to tickets issued while you were driving (speeding, red light, stop sign, etc.). Parking citations must be contested through SF's separate parking citation appeal process.
Yes. San Francisco's one-way street system is notoriously confusing, especially for visitors. VC 21461 ("Failure to Obey Traffic Sign") citations can be challenged in a written contest by arguing signage was obscured, street design was ambiguous, or officer's position made it unclear when the violation occurred. Many one-way tickets are dismissed.
Yes. Market Street is SF's main corridor with complex traffic patterns: Muni rails, bike lanes, multiple one-way transitions, and heavy pedestrian traffic. Common citations include unsafe lane changes, failure to yield, and red light violations. Contesting remotely lets you challenge officer vantage points and ambiguous lane markings.
No—not by contesting remotely. TDismiss only applies to moving violations (tickets issued by an officer while you were driving). Parking citations are administrative and must be contested through SFMTA's parking citation appeal process. Only speeding, red light, stop sign, and similar moving violations qualify for TDismiss.
Yes. San Francisco's steep hills (some exceed 30% grade) create unique challenges. Coming to a complete stop on a steep incline risks rolling backward into traffic. Contesting remotely lets you argue that conditions made a complete stop unsafe and that the officer's uphill or downhill vantage point made accurate assessment impossible.
SF traffic cases are handled at Hall of Justice (850 Bryant St, near Civic Center). Parking is terrible, security lines are long, and it's only open weekdays 8:30am–4:30pm. With remote written defense, you never go there. TDismiss files your defense by mail; you stay home.
Your "courtesy notice" lists a due date—typically 21–30 days from the citation date, sometimes up to 45 days. You must pay, appear, or request a remote written contest before that deadline. Missing it triggers a failure-to-appear (FTA) charge under VC 40508, adding $300+ to your fine and placing a DMV hold on your license.
A moving violation conviction adds 1 DMV point, which stays for 36 months. Insurance companies check your record at renewal and typically raise premiums 20–40% for a single point. Avoiding the conviction through a successful contest prevents the point entirely. Even reducing to a non-moving violation (0 points) protects your rate.
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