Dude, Where's My Car?

Imagine my surprise, coming 'round the corner and seeing no cars on a street where there should have been cars—namely, ours.

It turns out every car that had been parked on this block was in violation of Sec. 33(c) of the San Francisco Traffic Code:

SEC. 33. DIVERTING OF TRAFFIC AND TEMPORARY PARKING RESTRICTIONS.
(c) Violation. It shall be unlawful for any person to park a vehicle in violation of such prohibition or restriction or to disobey the lawful order of any Police Officer or Parking Control Officer directing the removal or diverting of a vehicle from said street or area.

In other words...

...they wanted to shoot a Volkswagen commercial.

There was no signage up when we parked the car there on Friday, and by 9:15am Sunday morning the City Tow vultures found themselves with a couple dozen carcasses to feed on. It turns out that they need give just ONE DAY's notice:

Parking areas on public streets needed for equipment and filming must be posted by the movie company no later than 24 hours prior to the start of filming at that location.

The cost of the citation: $40. The towing: $290. The ulcer: Priceless.

Comments

[patty]

Unbelievable.

I'd be so furious ... and it does make me want to never buy a Volkswagon.

Hmmm. The people's car? Kinda not.

As Dan said, "I'd be mad. I'd be calling city hall." (And he would, too.)

Me? I'd blog loud and long about it. Sometimes that actually gets results. Or not.

So sorry ....

OMG.

Write the supes. And tell VW you will never, ever...

[Sr. R-]

That German license plate is süper-cool.

[M. C-]

That German license plate

That might be what pisses me off the most, that this isn't even going to be shown in the US—I won't even have the opportunity scream at the TV every time it airs.

Thanks to all for the support. I hate them soooooo much, it... it, the... it, flame, flames, flames on the side of my face...

[Patrick]

This is what I love about car commercials -- they never, ever, ever show you anything that even somewhat approximates actual driving conditions.
And it sounds as if the city doesn't really need to give you any notice at all -- is this just a quick way to raise cash, kind of their equivalent of selling old CDs to Amoeba?

[sfmike]

I think you would be perfectly justified bitch-slapping Stefanie Coyote of the Film Commission personally while screaming horrible invective. Her phone number, by the way, is 415.554.6241 and the Film Commission offices are Room 473 in City Hall. This is just outrageous and they should know how unamused you are.

[john]

24 hours notice is outrageous.

I'd be sick with anger.

Car commercials -- the fantasy of DRIVING . . . . . . . WHERE THERE ARE NO PEOPLE ! ! ! !

wtF?

(g-rated translation of common internet acronym: "with thoroughgoing frustration . . . " )

My sympathies. Aarrgghh!