The hours can change, the days they are enforced can vary, and some times even the rate can fluctuate.
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But have you ever wondered how much money they take in?
Our media partner, The San Francisco Standard, has a new article out that looks at the annual revenue from meters - and it turns out not all meters are created equal.
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MORE: SFMTA to extend parking meter hours, include Sundays. Here's what drivers need to know
The Standard reports that a single parking meter near the corner of Pierce and Lombard streets brought in over $17,000 in fees just in the past year, making it the city's highest revenue generator.
According to the report, it costs $10.75 per hour to park at that location between noon and 3 p.m. on Saturdays, up from $10 an hour during the week, and $82 to leave a car there for the whole weekend day.
In total, San Francisco racked up $51.7 million across nearly 23,000 parking meters in the past year, according to the analysis.
For more insight, The San Francisco Standard reporter Noah Boston takes us for a look at the eye-opening amount the city makes from parking meters, and where all that money goes.