What does this law mean?

Except as provided in Section 40209, the registered owner and driver, rentee, or lessee of a vehicle cited for any violation of any regulation governing the parking of a vehicle under this code, under any federal statute or regulation, or under any ordinance enacted by a local authority shall be jointly liable for parking penalties imposed under this article, unless the owner can show that the vehicle was used without consent of that person, express or implied. An owner who pays any parking penalty, civil judgment, costs, or administrative fees pursuant to this article shall have the right to recover the same from the driver, rentee, or lessee

It means that you can be required to pay any parking fine involving your car, unless the car was taken without your consent. It also says that, if you have to pay, you can go after the driver to recover any part of the fine you had to pay.

It means the owner of the vehicle is responsible for the cost of parking tickets that is issued to that vehicle. But they can in turn sue the driver to get the money back.