SF not as strict when it comes to ticketing for expired vehicle registrations Here's what we found

San Francisco has seen a dramatic decline in expired vehicle registration citations, plummeting from 599 before the pandemic to only 21 in 2024. This change results from a California DMV directive issued in March 2020, which advised law enforcement to exercise discretion due to COVID-19. The San Francisco Police Department faces additional restrictions from a 2023 state law that prevents stops for registrations expired longer than two months, limiting their enforcement capabilities. The SFMTA clarified that officers must first verify registration status through dispatch, a process that can be time-consuming and less efficient than addressing other parking violations. Critics, including city officials, emphasize that this shift prioritizes officer resources on serious traffic offenses, yet raises concerns about accountability for expired registrations.

A Stanford study supports the notion that limiting traffic stops can reduce escalations between police and civilians. The SFMTA reported a significant decrease in expired registration citations, indicating a shift in enforcement priorities. This situation reflects broader concerns about police staffing shortages and resource allocation in San Francisco.