Plain-language guides for people who were towed, and the audits, reports and court rulings behind them. Each summary is ours; follow the link to read the original.
Newest first. Government reports are public records; the others belong to their authors, so we link to them and do not post copies.
Estimates about $278.6 million in tow program costs against $207.9 million in revenue over the 10-year contract, with transit funds covering about $70.7 million. It lists ways to shrink the gap, including fewer fee discounts or higher fees.
Why it matters: Shows the budget pressure on San Francisco's fee waivers.
Last checked .
Reports the City Attorney's debarment of a private tow company over 2023 tows from a bank parking lot made without the owner's permission.
Why it matters: An example of the City acting against a private tow company.
The article also names people and describes criminal charges that have no published outcome; we do not repeat them.
Last checked .
News coverage of the July 2023 Court of Appeal decision on tows for unpaid parking tickets.
Why it matters: Explains the ruling behind SFPD Bulletin 23-174.
Last checked .
Walks through one driver's bill and SFMTA's explanation that land and labor costs drive the fees. It reports about 35,400 tows a year after the pandemic and that SFPD-ordered tows make up about a fifth of the total.
Why it matters: A plain explanation of where a San Francisco tow bill comes from.
Last checked .
Gives the contract's costs year by year since 2016, describes the 12-firm tow operator network, and summarizes a Controller survey of 11 other cities' tow programs and SFMTA's July 2022 memo on options to cut costs.
Why it matters: The clearest official description of how San Francisco's tow program is run and paid for.
Last checked .
Reports about 42,350 tows a year in San Francisco, at roughly $600 to get a car back, with about 10% of cars left at the tow lot. It recommends tow and boot relief for low-income and unhoused people, payment plans and community service.
Why it matters: The work behind San Francisco's income-based tow fee relief.
Last checked .
The only audit of the current towing contract we have found. It found fee collection, waivers, inventory and subcontractor oversight in order, but no tracking of in-person wait times. It reports about 42,500 tows and $21 million in fees in fiscal 2016-17.
Why it matters: An official check on how the City's tow contractor handles fees and waivers.
Last checked .
Court rulings about towing in San Francisco. A case decides the dispute in front of the court; whether it applies to a tow depends on the facts.
Last checked .