Ticket-weary San Francisco drivers will have to dig a little deeper into their pockets come Friday.

Most parking tickets, ranging from violations such as parking in a tow-away zone in downtown San Francisco to parking with an expired meter, will be raised by $10. Fees for residential parking permits, removing tire clamps on the vehicles of repeat offenders and other San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency services will also increase.

The fee hikes are a result of the new SFMTA budget. The plan, which will bring the transportation agency’s annual take from parking fines from $90 million to about $103 million, was approved by the SFMTA board in April. The entire SFMTA budget currently is before the Board of Supervisors.

Officials at the transportation agency, which runs Muni and handles parking and traffic, say the increased fees are necessary to close the agency’s budget deficit of nearly $15 million this year and $66 million the following year.

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“No one likes to see fees and fines raised, but we needed to find a way to close our deficit and make sure we have the revenue to continue to provide the transportation management service that San Francisco deserves,” spokesman Judson True said.

The $10 increase will affect all violations currently under $90. Residential parking permits also will rise, from $60 to $74, boot-removal fees will nearly triple, from $75 to $205, and fees for block-party permits and curb painting will increase.

Sunset district resident Ian Kerwin, 26, said he understood the need to punish those breaking the law, but didn’t agree with charging people to park in their own neighborhoods.

“It’s free for me to park in my neighborhood, but two blocks over, people have to pay. It doesn’t seem fair,” he said.

District 11 supervisor candidate Myrna Lim called The City’s parking enforcement “mercenary” and said she feared that the increased fees would drive patrons away from San Francisco businesses.

“They’re balancing their budget on the backs of poor and working people. Some of us have no choice but to drive, because we’re taking care of children and parents,” Lim said. “It’s shortsighted. They’re looking for the easy buck and shooing away consumers in the process. Why shop on Mission Street and risk a ticket when you could go to Serramonte?”

The cost-recovery measures are part of a two-year plan. In fiscal year 2008-09, a Muni Fast Pass is expected to increase to $55. Transit passes for youths, seniors and the disabled would incur a $5 hike.

tbarak@sfexaminer.com