I did the reading after I drove the car on the freeway for about 15 minutes. Reading was taken within 90 seconds of turning off the car.

I apologize in advance for the bad nighttime camera phone pics

side without any atf


side with splotchy atf. looks overfilled??

 

There needs to be fluid on both sides of the stick. Usually when you see it on one side only it's because it has rubbed on fluid somewhere sliding down the tube.
If you stuck your finger in oil would you only see it on one side of your finger?

 

You're not alone:
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/weird-atf-level-reading-even-after-car-run-787563/

If the fluid level is correct, you'll see fluid on each side of the dipstick, got to be there, but may have been inadvertently wiped when stick removed. Try it numerous times at different intervals.

 

thanks turbonut. i was actually the one that started the thread lol

If i check the dipstick while the car is running, the dipstick will have fluid covered on both sides and will be about two inches above the uppermost indicator mark.