San Francisco Parking Space App Battle Escalates

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The company behind an app that allows drivers to get paid for public parking spaces in San Francisco is rejecting an order from the city attorney to stop its operations.

MonkeyParking CEO Paolo Dobrowolny says in a statement that City Attorney Dennis Herrera's letter violates free speech. Dobrowolny says people have the right to tell others if they're about to leave a parking spot and get paid for the information.

Herrera issued a letter to the company this week saying the city's police code prevented the sale or lease of city streets.

Herrera spokesman Matt Dorsey said Dobrowolny was making an argument akin to a prostitute saying she isn't selling sex, just information about her willingness to have sex.

Herrera's warning to Monkey Parking is the latest attempt by city government officials and state lawmakers nationwide trying to figure out how to regulate Web-based businesses that offer shared parking, transportation and housing services using mobile applications. Among the more popular ridesharing services are Uber and Lyft, and popular housing apps include Airbnb.

The Monkey Parking app allows drivers to get an often elusive parking spot and sell it for $5, $10, even $20, and then wait until the buyer arrives to take their place.

Herrera has given its creators until July 11 to shut down operations in San Francisco or possibly face a lawsuit under California's Unfair Competition Law. Herrera added that besides the violations, Monkey Parking's app encourages drivers to unsafely use their mobile devices and engage in online parking bidding wars while behind the wheel.