SF city attorney demands shutdown of parking-space-auctioning app


Monkeyparking, the app that lets assholes auction off their parking spots, has been sent a cease-and-desist letter by San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera, who says the practice of selling your public parking spot is illegal. Monkeyparking's competition are expected to receive the same treatment soon.

Herrera denounced the app as creating "a predatory private market for public parking spaces."

"Worst of all, it encourages drivers to use their mobile devices unsafely — to engage in online bidding wars while driving," Herrera said. "People are free to rent out their own private driveways and garage spaces should they choose to do so. But we will not abide businesses that hold hostage on‐street public parking spots for their own private profit."

MonkeyParking and any motorists using the app face fines of $300 per violation of the city's law prohibiting selling or contracting for parts of a public street, according to the city attorney. The company faces penalties of $2,500 per violation if the city sues it under the state's unfair competition Law, Herrera wrote.

SF cracks down on 'Monkey Parking' mobile app [John Coté/SFGate]