Many San Diegans may not have valid parking permits

How it works: San Diego residents can park for free in certain lots and for a discount in other lots, but they have to go through a lengthy process first.

Step 1: Create an account and pay a $5 processing fee.

Step 2: Log back in, go through several more steps and upload documents to verify your residency.

• It's detailed in this 6-page document and this 3.5-minute video.

City spokesperson Richard Berg told Axios that what may be happening is that people are doing the first step and thinking they're done.

💭 Claire's thought bubble: This is exactly what I did.

Follow the money: Since police started ticketing in Balboa Park, 276 tickets have been issued, Berg said.

• The city has brought in $1,508,892.77 in parking meter revenue and collected $315,961 in permit fees.

By the numbers: Since the portal launched at the start of the year, the city has issued 12,678 permits, Berg told Axios, (out of a city of 1.4 million).