FAQs

You may report this information to the Police Department at (650) 877-8900 or the Peninsula Humane Society at (650) 340-8200

Anyone who receives a parking ticket from the South San Francisco Police Department can now pay their citations on-line with a credit card.

The website is www.pticket.com/ssf. The secure parking ticket website is simple. Just enter the citation number and follow the step-by-step instructions. Please note that a $3.00 charge is added for using the on-line method.

You can still pay via check or money order by mail without the extra charge.

Also, a toll-free number is being set-up to allow people to pay by phone with a credit card. More information about the toll-free number to follow soon.

BART parking permits for residents in the neighborhood near the BART Station are issued at the Police Department during regular business hours Mondays - Fridays 7:30 am to 7:00 pm, Saturdays 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Sundays 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

If you are not current with your payments, then it is possible your car was repossessed. If your car was illegally parked, it is possible it was towed. Contact the Police Department at (650) 877-8900. Someone will check the status of your license plate number and dispatch an Officer to take a report if it is believed your vehicle was stolen.

If the vandalism does not involve a hate crime or graffiti, and the amount of damage is estimated to be under $5,000.00, the report may be filed via the internet at report.ssfpd.net. To speak directly to an officer, please call the Police Department at (650) 877-8900.

Most questions about parking citations can be answered by looking at the front of the citation and identifying the violation and related fine. If questions still arise, the South San Francisco Municipal Code is available through the City's website. Chapter 11 of the Municipal Code refers to all traffic and parking related regulations. As with most agencies, the City of South San Francisco contracts out the processing of all parking citations and any further inquires can be directed to the Office of Parking Violations in Redwood City, CA; the address and phone number is clearly marked on the front of all citations.

Instructions on how to contest a citation are clearly marked on the front of all parking citations. Parking citations must be paid or contested within 21 days of issuance; failure to do so may result in additional penalties and the loss of your right to contest the citation.

You may contest a citation by requesting an initial review in writing, by telephone or in person to the Office of Parking (800) 352-7567. You must provide your reasons for requesting the initial review and include any documentation related to your appeal. You will be notified by mail of the results of the review. You will also be provided information on how to request an administrative hearing if you are not satisfied with the results of your initial review.

Abandoned Vehicles on Public Roadways - M.C. 11.40.160 - Use of streets for storage of vehicle is prohibited:

1. It is unlawful for any person who owns or has possession of any motor vehicle to park such vehicle upon any public street, lane, or parking lot for more that a consecutive period of seventy-two hours.
2. In the event a vehicle is parked or left standing upon a public street, lane, or parking lot in excess of a consecutive period of seventy-two hours, any employee of the police department. Authorized by the chief of police, may remove the vehicle from the street in the manner and subject to the requirements of the Vehicle Code. (Ord. 1109/2(part), 1992).

In summary, vehicles cannot be parked on a public street for more than 72-hours! The Police Department issues courtesy notices to vehicles that are suspected of being "abandoned". Officers also chalk the tires, obtain an odometer reading, and measure the location of the car on the street. The mere pushing or rolling of the vehicle does not constitute "moving." Help fight blight and keep our neighborhoods clean!

Abandoned Vehicle Hotline: Call (650) 829-3939 to report any abandoned vehicles on public property. We will investigate your report promptly.

Removal of "Abandoned Vehicles" from Private Property:

Under most circumstances, the South San Francisco Police Department cannot cite and/or tow abandoned Vehicles from private property or parking lots. The Police Department will help advise you on what to do when someone abandons a car on your private property or parking lot. Suggestions for what a private property owner and/or manager can do to remove an abandoned car from private property:

• Ensure that your private property or parking lot is posted with the proper signs. See below for required signage details.
• Call a tow company of your choice. There are several reputable tow companies in the Northern San Mateo County area. Unfortunately, the Police Department cannot refer you to a specific tow company.
• The property owner/manager negotiates with the tow company regarding the price of tow/vehicle removal. Shop around; the price/bill for towing abandoned/illegally parked vehicles varies from company to company.

Some abandoned vehicles in parking lots may be stolen and just dumped there. You can call the Police Department at (650) 877-8900 with the license plate number or VIN and we will tell you if the car has been reported stolen. The Police Department will recover and tow away all stolen vehicles without any tow charges to you. 8.48.010 M.C.: Nuisance Declared – Vehicle Abatements: The Police Department has the authority to remove some types of "Abandoned Vehicles" from private property when the vehicle is worth less than $500, is a potential health or safety hazard, and is an attractive nuisance. This "Abatement" process is time consuming (approximately 30 days) and is expensive. Tow fees, along with police administrative fees, will be passed along to the property owner for payment. These costs are typically much higher than the private property tow procedure outlined above. In summary, it takes much longer and is more expensive for the Police Department to tow a qualifying "Abandoned Vehicle" from private property.

Private Property Parking Lot Signage per 22658 CVC (in part):

1. Prepare a sign containing the wording, "PRIVATE PROPERTY PARKING FOR________________ ONLY." Violators will be towed away at the owner's expense per 22658 (a) CVC. South San Francisco Police Department (650) 877-8900.
2. The size of the sign must not be less that seventeen inches (17") vertically and twenty-two inches (22") horizontally, and the lettering may not be less than one inch (1") in height and must be in contrasting colors.
3. Post the signs at EACH entrance to the parking lot in plain view of anyone entering the property. The signs must be completely legible.

For questions regarding this somewhat confusing private property parking issue, please call the Police Traffic/Motor Unit supervisor at (650) 829-3934.

When a traffic signal is flashing red and/or non-operative, treat the intersection as a four-way stop and proceed into the intersection when safe. When a traffic signal is not functioning properly, call (650) 877-8900 and report the problem to the South San Francisco Police Department.

Complaint Report Process:

The South San Francisco Police Department strives to provide the best type of law enforcement service possible. We invite your suggestions for methods of improving Police services through constructive criticism of Department procedures, your comments indicating dissatisfaction with the manner of performance, or information concerning commendable actions by employees of the Police Department. Each report received will be investigated and appropriate action taken. Complaints against department personnel will be handled in a prompt and unbiased manner. Your suggestions about improved procedures will be investigated, evaluated, and implemented when feasible to do so. Any commendation of the actions of our personnel will result in appropriate recognition.

If you wish to make a complaint in person, please come to the Police Department. You will be received courteously and thorough consideration will be given to your report. If you wish to register your report, a complaint report form will be provided to you for completion; and you may then mail in the form to the department. Please provide as much information as possible. Give your name and address so that we may contact you for further information, if needed. Every report will receive the personal attention of the Chief of Police.

If you wish to complete a complaint report online, please follow one of the links below to open up the form so you can complete it online. Then you can print it and either send by U.S. mail or deliver it to the Department in person.

• Complaint Form - English(PDF, 285KB)
• Complaint Form - Spanish(PDF, 298KB)

It is important to note that you have a right to make a complaint against a Police Officer for any improper police conduct. California law requires that all police agencies have a procedure to investigate citizens' complaints. You have a right to a written description of this procedure. Citizen complaints and any reports or findings relating to complaints, regardless of the disposition, must be retained by this agency for at least five years. It is against the law to make a complaint that you know to be false. If you make a complaint against an officer knowing that it is false, you can be prosecuted on a misdemeanor charge.

Employee Recognition Process:

It is the Police Department’s goal is to provide our community with the highest quality of police services. All of our employees are committed to serving with that goal in mind. We invite the recognition of employee(s) that provide exceptional service. Any commendation of employee service will result in review and appropriate recognition.

If you wish to make an employee recognition report in person, please come to the Police Department and pick up an Employee Recognition form or you may speak to a Supervisor in person. If you wish to complete an Employee Recognition form online, please follow one of the links below to open up the form so you can complete it online. Then you can print it and either send by U.S. mail or deliver it to the Department in person.

• Employee Recognition Form - English(PDF, 280KB)
• Employee Recognition Form - Spanish(PDF, 286KB)

If an unauthorized vehicle is blocking your driveway and preventing you from entering or exiting your property, contact the Police Department at (650) 877-8900 and report the violation.

The South San Francisco Police Department Traffic Unit maintains a complaint log of all speeding complaints. If a citizen is concerned about speeding in a specific area, they are encouraged to contact the traffic unit at (650) 829-3934 to report the problem. The traffic unit will document and address the complaint.

In-progress gang activity of a violent nature should be reported by dialing 9-1-1. General information regarding gangs and gang activity can be reported by calling the Police Department at (650) 877-8900.

Notify the Police Department at (650) 877-8900.

Notify the Police Department at (650) 877-8900.

In-progress abuse should be reported by dialing 9-1-1. Abuse activity not in progress can be reported by calling the Police Department at (650) 877-8900.

In-progress abuse should be reported by dialing 9-1-1. Abuse activity not in progress can be reported by calling the Police Department at (650) 877-8900.

Notify the Police Department at (650) 877-8900 and have as much descriptive information available as possible.

You must be a current resident or at one time resided in South San Francisco. You must come in person to the Police Department and present a valid form of photo identification (Drivers License, California Identification Card or passport with fairly recent photo) and your SSF address. A check of only SSFPD records will be conducted. The fee is $40.00 and you will be provided with a letter which will state you either have no criminal history or list all your arrests with convictions, if you have any.

You must call for an appointment. Our days and hours for Live Scan are(Thursdays 1:00 - 3:00 pm & Saturdays 11:00 am - 1:00 pm). There is a fee of $83.00 in addition to the fees charged by the California Department of Justice and/or the F.B.I., depending upon the type of background check you require. Call (650) 877­-8900 for an appointment.

You may request a copy by mail by sending the required fee and a self-addressed stamped envelop and a copy will be mailed to you, generally within 2-3 days of receipt of the request. You should phone the Records office at (650) 877-8900 (have the report number handy if possible) to find out how much a copy will cost and whether the report is ready to be released. Or, you may come to the Police Department, provide identification, and purchase a copy of the report. The cost is 25-cents per page. Please allow a minimum of 5 working days for traffic accident reports to be completed.

Generally speaking, you should make your report with the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the city in which the incident occurred. The South San Francisco Police Department will take reports of incidents which occur in our city.

Please know your vehicle's license plate number before contacting us, as it will speed the process of locating your vehicle. You may phone us at (650) 877-8900 or come in person to our station and present valid photo identification to verify you are the registered owner of the vehicle. If your vehicle was towed because of expired registration or for having five or more unpaid parking tickets, you must first go to the Department of Motor Vehicles and handle those issues. Then bring the receipts from the DMV to our Department. A fee of $163.00 (cash, Visa/MC, money order, cashier's check only) is charged for a vehicle release. If you do not possess a valid driver's license, you need to bring with you someone who does. You will be provided the release and, if needed, a map to the tow company storing your vehicle. You will then be responsible for paying any tow and storage fees directly to the tow company.

Yes. The registered owner of the vehicle may prepare a letter describing the vehicle in question (year, make, license number) and identify another person whom you are authorizing to pick up the release for the vehicle. This letter must be notarized by a Notary Public.

The vehicle owner is entitled to a "Post-Storage Hearing." The owner must come in person to the Police Department and request such a hearing. The hearing officer will make a determination about the validity of the tow.

To obtain the required forms or information, phone the Superior Court Clerk's Office at (650) 877-5705 between 9:00 am - 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm, or go to the Court Clerk's Office at 1050 Mission Road, South San Francisco during those hours. If the court is closed, under certain conditions the Police Department can assist you in obtaining an Emergency Protective Order (EPO). The order is valid for five court days and within that time you may seek a Temporary Restraining Order from the Superior Court Clerk's Office.

Yes. Acts of domestic violence which occurred in South San Francisco should be reported to the SSF Police Department.

You can phone the CORA (Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse) 24-hour hotline at (650) 312-8515 or (800) 300-1080. If you decide you need a Domestic Violence Restraining Order, contact the Superior Court Clerk's Office. The D.V. Restraining Order will take approximately 24-hours for a judge's approval and processing. There is no charge for a D.V. Restraining Order.

Pre-requisites for having a juvenile record sealed are that you are at least 18 years of age, off formal probation at least one year or off informal probation for at least six months. You will need to contact Hillcrest Juvenile Facility at (650) 312-8816. They will take down your information and mail an application to you. Or, you can go to 21 Tower Road, Belmont and pick up an application at the front desk.

When a defendant is convicted, the Judge may order the defendant to pay a "Criminal Justice Administration Fee" in the amount equal to the amount the arresting law enforcement agency is charged by the County for each j ail booking. Failure to pay the bill can result in the debt going to a collection agency.

When your vehicle was repossessed, the Police Department was advised and, in order to avoid you incorrectly reporting your vehicle stolen, we made a computer entry indicating the vehicle was repossessed. The State has set the $15.00 fee as compensation to the Police Department for the computer entry. The legal owner of your vehicle is required to make sure the $15.00 fee is paid before they can release the vehicle to you.

Our booking days and times are Wednesdays from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm and Saturdays from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. You must bring a valid form of identification with you.

Bicycles are licensed by Fire Department personnel. Please call them at (650) 829­-3950 for information.

Unfortunately, we do not have sufficient personnel to conduct vacation checks. If possible, arrange for a trusted neighbor to watch your house. You should arrange for your newspapers to be stopped or have someone stop by daily to pick them up. You should put your lights on timers. Also, you should be aware that there is a City Ordinance regarding the parking of vehicles on the street in excess of 3 days, so you may want to park your vehicle in your garage or driveway so that it does not get towed while you are away.

You will need to obtain a letter from the Consulate confirming that you have proved your identity and that the ID card was lost. Bring the letter to the police department, where an officer will complete a police report. You will be given a case number to provide to the Consulate.

The South San Francisco Police Department publishes a daily media bulletin on the City Website [click here]. Requests for specific incident details are accepted and evaluated on a case by case basis and can be submitted via email, phone, writing, or in person at the Police Department.

Your recovered property is evidence of the crime and will assist in the prosecution of the suspect. When the court case is concluded, the District Attorney's Office will notify us and we will notify you by letter when your property can be returned.

Your guns were most likely taken for Safekeeping. If you are the legal owner of the guns, they may be returned to you after you receive clearance from the Department of Justice. Your Rights with regard to this are defined on the "Property Receipt/Notice of Rights" that was given to you at the time the officer took your guns.

Assuming that the firearms are legal to possess, there are various reasons why your guns cannot be returned. By law, there are persons who are forbidden from owning or possessing firearms, including persons identified as the "restrained person" in a Restraining Order", those convicted of certain misdemeanors and felonies, as well as victims of certain mental illnesses or disorders Additionally, if the firearm was used in the commission or attempted commission of a felony by the owner, the weapon will be disposed of. If your weapon was seized the Superior Court may issue an order to destroy the weapon. If the owner is forbidden from owning or possessing the firearm, but it is not ordered destroyed, arrangements can be made for the owner to sell the firearm to another person through a licensed gun dealer.

Appointments are required in order to pick up your property. Phone the Property/ Evidence unit at (650) 877-8924 between 8:00 am - 3:30 pm Monday through Thursday to set an appointment.