§ 315. PROCEDURE FOR ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTION OF ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES.

(a) This Section shall govern the imposition, assessment and collection of administrative penalties imposed pursuant to Section 314.

(b) The SFMTA Board of Directors finds:

(1) That it is in the best interest of the City, its residents, visitors and those who park on City streets to provide an alternative, administrative penalty mechanism for enforcement of Residential Parking Permit applications that contain false, misleading, or fraudulent information in addition to the existing enforcement mechanisms authorized under the San Francisco Transportation Code; and

(2) That the administrative penalty scheme established by this section is intended to compensate the public for the injury or damage caused by any person who submits a Residential Parking Permit application containing a fraudulent statement in order to obtain preferential parking in a Residential Parking Permit Area. The administrative penalties authorized under this section are intended to be reasonable and not disproportionate to the damage or injury to the City and the public caused by the prohibited conduct.

(c) Administrative Citation. Where an officer or employee designated in Section 314 determines that there has been a violation of subdivision (b) of Division I, Section 7.2.50, the officer or employee may issue an administrative citation to the person and/or entity responsible for the violation. The citation may be personally served on the applicant or by certified U.S. mail to the address indicated on the permit application. The citation shall inform the person or entity responsible of the date and nature of the violation and the amount of the administrative penalty, and shall state that the penalty is due and payable to the SFMTA within 15 business days from the date of the notice, if not contested within the time period specified. The citation shall also state that the person or entity responsible has the right, pursuant to Subsection (d), to request an administrative hearing of the citing officer or employee's determination as to the violation and assessment of penalties, and shall set forth the procedure for requesting an administrative hearing. The designated officer or employee shall mail the administrative citation and evidence supporting the determination of a violation of subdivision (b) of Division I, Section 7.2.50 to the residential address listed on the Residential Parking Permit application submitted to the SFMTA pursuant to Section 905.

(d) Request for Hearing; Hearing.

(1) A person or entity that has been issued an administrative citation may request an administrative hearing in person, by telephone, or by email in order to contest the citation issued in accordance with this Section. The administrative hearing shall be initiated by filing a request for an administrative hearing with the SFMTA Hearing Division within 15 business days from the date of the citation. Failure to request a hearing in a timely manner or to attend a scheduled hearing shall satisfy the hearing requirement.

(2) Whenever an administrative hearing is requested pursuant to this Section, the SFMTA Hearing Section shall, within fifteen business days of receipt of the request, notify the requestor of the date, time, and place of the administrative hearing by certified mail. Such hearing shall be held no later than thirty (30) calendar days after the SFMTA Hearing Section receives the request, unless time is extended by mutual agreement of the affected parties.

(3) The administrative hearing shall be conducted by a neutral Hearing Officer assigned by the SFMTA Hearing Section. The SFMTA Hearing Section may issue rules as needed to implement this requirement. The parties may present evidence and testimony to the Hearing Officer. All testimony shall be under oath. The Hearing Officer shall ensure that a record of the proceedings is maintained. The burden of proof to uphold the violation shall be on the City, but the administrative citation shall be prima facie evidence of the violation.

(4) The Hearing Officer shall issue a decision including a summary of the issues and the evidence presented, and findings and conclusions, within fifteen (15) business days of the conclusion of the hearing. The Hearing Officer may uphold the penalty imposed by the citation or dismiss the citation. A copy of the decision may be personally delivered to the person contesting the violation or sent by first class mail. The decision shall be a final administrative determination. An aggrieved party may seek judicial review of the decision pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure Sections 1094.5 and 1094.6.

(e) Payment and Collection of Penalty.

(1) Where a person has not made a timely request for administrative hearing, the penalty shall be due and payable to the SFMTA on or before 15 business days from the date of issuance.

(2) Where a person or entity has made a timely request for administrative hearing, and the violation and penalty have been upheld upon review, the administrative penalty shall be due and payable not later than 10 business days from the date of the notice of decision issued under subparagraph (d)(4).

(3) If a penalty due and payable under paragraphs (1) or (2) remains unpaid after the specified due date, the SFMTA shall send the violator written notice that the penalty is overdue. Penalties that remain unpaid 30 calendar days after the due date shall be subject to a late payment penalty of fifty ($50) dollars. Persons and entities against whom administrative penalties are imposed shall also be liable for the costs and attorney's fees incurred by the SFMTA in bringing any civil action to enforce the provisions of this section, including obtaining a judgment for the amount of the administrative penalty and other costs and charges.

(4) Where there is a nexus between the violation and property in the City owned by the violator, the SFMTA shall further inform the violator that if the amount due is not paid within 30 calendar days from the date of the notice, the SFMTA shall initiate proceedings to make the amount due and all additional authorized costs and charges, including attorneys fees, a lien on the property. Such liens shall be imposed in accordance with Chapter 10, Article XX of the Administrative Code.

(f) Administrative penalties shall be deposited in the Municipal Transportation Fund and may be expended only by the SFMTA.

(Added by SFMTA Bd. Res. No. , Ad. 1/17/2012, Eff. 2/17/2012)