AT THE BEGINNING of this year, the city upped its parking ticket fines, making it more expensive than ever to park in the middle of Valencia Street. Here's some advice on what to do when you find a little note from the Department of Parking and Traffic fluttering on your windshield.

First, if you have a legitimate case for protesting the ticket (such as: the meter wasn't working; the No Parking sign was somehow obscured), you can pursue it within 21 days of receipt by filling out the flip side of the ticket and mailing it to the DPT's headquarters (1380 Howard St., Suite 1000, San Francisco, CA 94103). The DPT must respond within 45 days. If the department rules against you, you can go to the headquarters and argue your case before a hearing officer. If the officer rules against you, you can go down to San Francisco Police Department headquarters (850 Bryant, S.F.) and present your case before a traffic judge after you pay a $25 fee.