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APEC will limit parking in San Francisco. Here’s how to sign up for ‘Text Before Tow’

A red and white sign on a lamppost warns of no parking during APEC in San Francisco.
A tow-away warning is posted in San Francisco’s Nob Hill neighborhood on Saturday for the APEC conference. | Source: Julie Makinen/The Standard

As San Francisco parking restrictions tighten for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, now may be the time to sign up to get a text message if your vehicle is about to be towed.

The courtesy heads-up is called “Text Before Tow,” the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency said in a social media post this weekend.

To sign up, go to https://www.sfmta.com/text-tow-program-application.

READ MORE: Everything To Know About APEC Security, Traffic and Transit in 10 Maps

The text alerts are sent when a parking control officer finds abandoned vehicles, vehicles in violation of restrictions on 72-hour parking, blocked driveways, construction zone parking, and temporary no parking for special events and moving trucks, Muni said.

“Your vehicle will still receive a citation for violation; however, this service may prevent vehicles from being towed by giving you time to move your vehicle before a tow truck arrives,” the agency said.

READ MORE: Officials Warn of Travel Disruptions on Roads, Highways Near SFO During APEC

Muni said a tow truck will be dispatched simultaneously with the text message notification and could be there in as few as five minutes.

Once a vehicle is hooked up to a tow truck, the tow cannot be stopped, Muni said.

The program does not apply to peak tow-away, yellow or white zones, hazards or any other parking violations.

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