This is just a quick summary of other parking citation abuses suffered by other people at the hands (or pens) of corrupt law enforcement. The following comments are personal opinions and stories by these people. This web site takes no responsibility for these comments. it is clear that there are many people who feel wronged and helpless to defend themselves. Unless we fight back, there is little to stop Parking Enforcement Officers from giving citations to anyone, regardless of whether or not they are actually illegally parked or even parked at all. These letters were received before the Forum section of this site was ready.
I recently received an e-mail from someone who was parked on his driveway. Pasadena.
Unidentified
I have thoroughly read this article, and highly commend you for the detailed account and the lengths you went to....besides your full understanding of what their outrageous revenue game is there with their might-makes-right "parking enforcement"....and your on-target philosophical conclusions. I've been going through it with them for 3 months. (Last time I was in LA was 4 yrs ago for a day and a half, and before that only a total of about 4 days in my entire life.) What I have uncovered so far has blown my mind. I don't know how or why the people in Los Angeles have tolerated that crap for so long. (Lockheed Martin IMS Corp IS the LA Parking Violations Bureau, under contract with the city since 1994 for purpose of increasing city revenue and profits for its stockholders from their cut of the take on parking violations, be they valid or bogus such as yours.) Lockheed, using the City's name and city seal, sends all the idiotic "you lose" form letters. No one is accountable there in that racketeering game they've got going in parking enforcement....and as you experienced, there is a sweeping void of conscience. The City's hired hands and their superiors (like the stoneheaded ones deliberately writing wrongful tickets) work in concert with the PVB (Lockheed) whose methods and actions are downright unlawful. I've asked privately to others, "What planet are these people living on?" "Is all of Los Angeles filled with crazy people?" "Why hasn't there been an uprising there?"
My "story" isn't ready for publication yet, and is still not resolved as yours is (thanks to your tenacity). I would ask if you could put your "Los Angeles, Unsafe in Park" story, as is, on the consumer fraud website RipOffReport.com. It's gotten much attention nationally, and there are countless stories of rip offs from all over the country.....everything from government agencies to car dealers....to insurance companies, etc. The site's producer (who I know and have worked with) has been begging me to put my story of the LA parking enforcement rip off scam on the site, but I'd rather wait until more is resolved by my lawyers. (It involves almost $2,000.) What IS so good about the site is that it stirs reactions from others.......people who have been similarly victimized. The RipOffReport.com web site was begun 3 years ago and has mushroomed. If you click it on, you'll see what I mean. (No cost, of course, to put your story on it.).
The fellow who started it got royally screwed monetarily here in Arizona by local government and now offers everyone all over the world to tell their own stories of rip-offs from their personal experience.
Again, thanks for taking the time to write your story.
Marilynn W. 7-17-02.
Hi, my name is Terri and I am in the middle of a parking ticket contestation similar to yours. I came up with your site when I searched under Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 80.69(a). I too received a parking ticket when I parked in front of an incorrect sign for no parking. My sign said no parking on Fridays and I received the ticket on a Tuesday. What I did not know was that there was supposed to be another sign on top which stated no parking, but that was missing from the sign that I took to be correct. So far I lost my appeal. The admistrative decision was that I should have been aware that the sign was incorrect. I am appealing it again, and now it is going to cost me $25 plus time off work. Maybe your letters will help me as I took them off your web site. Just wanted you to know there is another person frustrated with the bureaucracy out there.....Terri
Terri L. 8-10-02.
After reading through the horror story you outlined, I'm inclined to go direct to Superior Court to ask a judge to set aside a citation issued to me (under similar questionable circumstances); what materials have you developed in this area, since I'm starting the process of going through legal research and precedents. (The parking folks already ruled against me using a form letter (even when I requested certain specific types of information), and now I have 21 days to pay it, go to an administrative hearing, or (presumably) go to court).
pete
peter R. 8-19-02.
In research on the Internet in preparation for the long delayed Administrative Hearing in Inglewood on three pending parking citations, I ran across your interesting web site. My series of tickets beginning last year primarily have to do with parking my motorcycles although the final citation was for an automobile with an alleged overtime parking meter violation.
Each citation has what I consider to be a fatal flaw in that the specific code and section violated is not shown on the ticket issued. There are additional cirucmstances on three of the citations which should lead to dismissals in the final analysis.
My score on the first three tickets is two dismissed, one taK. to Superior Court and overturned. Two of the more recent tickets are based on the same circumstances as the one that I took to court. The parking meter violation is being contested on the failure to list the specific code and section. I note that the Los Angeles Parking Ticket, unlike those issued currently in Inglewood, does show a Code and Section.
I certainly have no objection to being properly cited when I am illegally parked and I pay those citations without a murmur. I do object to improper citations as you did. If you would like, I'll let you know the outcome of my Administrative Hearing set on the remaining three tickets, set for May 22.
Oh, and I discovered that all of my preparation for the court hearing was for naught since the Inglewood City Attorney does not appear on court contested parking violations.
F. P. Russell, Jr. 5-15-03
Mr. L.,
Sir I have tried to read your letters to the city of LA and I have found I could not continue,,,the frustration level I was feeling was overwhelming. I really could sympathize with you. Recently I was issued a ticket early the morning of the city election last month.. I found a ticket on my car in my driveway for parking on my front yard, which was totally untrue. my driveway was being repaired on one side so my left side tires were actually stopped on my lawn. In any event I thought restricted parking was by notorious posting of signage imagine getting a ticket for parking on my own private property. I would appreciate any input from you.
. I actually saw those parking guys give tickets for unexpired parking on Colorado Blvd in OLD Towne... I wish I had a cam corder then.
K. Lee 6-19-03
hey friend thanks for posting your la ticket story
if you know of a lawyer who would be interested in trying to make a similar story into a class action suit (the whole process violates 4th amendment due process), than let me know.
otherwise, please know that your episode is inspiring...not just to me but probably to 100 other folks who don't have time to tell you so.
best wishes!
NL 8-27-03
Dear Mr. L.:
Since my truck got towed for parking tickets I am not only not guilty of, but have been fighting diligently, I am embarking on a full-scale assault to fight the rampant corruption within the PVB.
O. Matlin 1-19-04
I too was cited for parking tho the ticket said if i can show it was disabled car, then it would be waived...they ignored my documentattion and the ticket keeps going up to over 100 bucks now.....not fair
Unidentified 1-22-04
Hello K.,
What do you make of the common sight of "No Parking, street cleaning" signs that have white tape over the actual day and time parking is prohibited?
With no specific day and time how can one know when parking is prohibited?
Do you think the Parking Officers are putting tape on the signs? BTW, this does not stop them from ticketing.
Maybe I should remove the tape from the signs in front of a Parking Officer and see what happens?
G. Strickland 2-13-04
K.,
Please add my name to your list. I have had 3 of these...
K. G. Norton 3-19-04.
Hi what's up?
I happened to find your website on the net and found it interesting. I'm considering filing a lawsuit because I have been given parking tickets without the opportunity to fight them. What's going on with your activities relating to fighting the system?
enrique 4-3-04.
Dear Mr. L., I'm taking a chance that your account of your experience(s) with the City of Los Angeles' parking enforcement racket was not written "just for fun" as stated in the heading of your website. Seems about 2 years ago I read your detailed account and may have dropped you a line at that time.
The docket report of my two-year odyssey with the incredible City of Los Angeles (a case that wound up in federal court there -- US District Court, California Central District) can be reveiwed and accessed by any lawyer or anyone with a "Pacer" account. Web address is https://ecf.cacd.uscourts.gov. My case number is/was:03-cv-2819 if anyone is interested.
If you are seriously looking into a class action suit on behalf of all those who have been victimized in any number of ways from the unlawful, dishonest or unjust parking enforcement schemes of the City of Los Angeles, I would advise that you know well and fully trust the lawyer who will be representing you. By all means avoid unscrupulous Santa Monica "class action" lawyer David I. Lefkowitz or any of his associates. (Lefkowitz is unethical and dishonest and might try and seek you out as he did me and my lawyers.)
I imagine that the NBC News report for which you were recently interviewed must have been the scandalous reports that aired there on 2/19 and 2/20/04, researched by NBC4 investigative reporter Joel Grover, on the subject of the invisible and bleached-out "no parking" signage throughoutt the city.....existing like that for 10 years in many cases. Have there been any similar investigative reports since then?
I commend you for your continued interest in City of Los Angeles' parking enforcement. I am just grateful that I live far away from there....never again to set foot (much less wheels) in that corrupt city.
Marilynn W.
Mesa, Arizona
Hi, I too got a parking ticket which was not placed on my car. All of a sudden I got this delinquent notice with additional $130 on top of my $24.00 ticket. I wrote them a letter stating that I never recieved the ticket, however, I will pay for the ticket to resolve this issue but I will not pay for the additional $130 delinquent charges. They took the $24 and sent me a letter stating that they investigated and confirmed that the ticket is mine. How do I fight it? where do I go from here?
S. Kandasamy9-1-04
Hi, K.,
Yes, I. too, received a ticket for complying with two signs on the post near me, not knowing that on every other post there was a 3rd sign, requiring me to "curb my wheels", on a street that had such a gradual grade, I would never have though I was on a hill. This was, though, in West Hollywood. Although I protested the ticket with photos of "my sign", and conpared it to the next signs in either direction, and they said they would do a "field investigation", they still found that "the violation is valid", without giving me any explanation, whatsoever! In this particular case, though I was steaming mad, as you were, as the sign was still not replaced, and I just knew it was so some parking person could continue giving tickets there, my boss had paid for the citation, so I let it go.
This was also because I have been having my own running war with the City of LA for parking a trailer outside my house; being cited invalidly for being there over 72 hours (sometimes even a couple of hours after I have just moved it); being harassed by a very unstable parking lady (won't answer questions; won't look at me; just shouts accusations, who is "out to get me" (and, no, I'm NOT paranoid!); and having it towed twice which caused me to have to pay impound fees to get it out, all because of a neighbor 2 doors down, on a busy street, who thinks it "spoils the neighborhood", so calls relentlessly, causing the LAPD to do a "sweep" (this was admitted to me by the guy at the towyard). They didn't even ticket me (proving there was no violation), just impounded me. I requested a hearing in the very beginning, and no one ever contacted me. I'm supposed to be sent a notice to appeal the two, but it is never sent to me. Add to this, I had been given confliciting information by not only the DMV (I was told that a handicap sticker would exempt me from the 72 hour rule); then told, by a Parking Officer (supervisor), that the DMV was wrong, and also told that there was nothing illegal about having someone stay overnight in my vehicle. So I feel sorry for a VietNam Vet friend who has been given the runaround with disability benefits from the VA (talk about other government beurocracies), and let him stay, rent free in my trailer, while he's waiting for his checks, only to find out, when talking to LAPD, that THEY, instead, say that, NO, that's considered "overnight camping", and is, indeed, illegal, and that LA Parking is wrong. Then they explain to me, that for any parking issue, that the "most restrictive law" is correct, and that it is beholdent on me, the layperson, to figure out who to listen to, and if I am wrong, guess what, I'm SOL! The only advice I got from one policeman re: the nasty neighbor and the "sweep" was to "call my councilwoman"! (Please, tell me what happened to you when you contacted the Mayor -should I just skip my councilwoman?) So, that's what I was about to do (I haven't paid ANY of my tickets, by the way, the whole situation just became too overwhelming, and my husband was sick and dying), when I thought I'd search for anyone else who might be in my predicament, and I found YOU! (By the way, I live in Studio City, so I'll check out that sign you were cited for on Weddington).
So, in short, yeah, let's start an expose on these crooks!
And, keep me "posted" (if you'll excuse the pun!)
M. Kelley 10-19-04.
Hello K.,
I'd just like to be added to your list. I got a parking ticket on Thanksgiving morning for parking in the alley behind my apartment, while I was loading my car. While I was loading my car! While I was going up and down the stairs, I got a ticket in an alley with no signs.
There were no places to park, since the area i live in is in Korea Town, cars fill the street. I actually moved my car from Vermont to load my car. I was really angry that morning after the ticket, but I'll pay the ticket, since I have no resources to do otherwise.
Thanks,
Ollie B. 11-30-04.
Please add my name to your list, Thanks.
You did a stellar job on your case, I am learning a great from it for my own cause.
Malia S. 12-6-04.
Yesterday (12/24), I went to my mailbox and was surprised to find a collection notice for a supposed parking violation, commited almost a year ago (1/24/04), while my vehicle was parked in Los Angeles downtown. I was totally surprised as I've never seen this ticket on my car. Neither did I receive any subseqeunt notices, contrary to what this collection notice claimed.
Since the office is close, I tried to look up the citation to find out what the violation was (it just says "Display of"). Nowhere can I find any description of this citation, although I can get to an online payment option and the citation will come up for payment.
After reading about your experience, I become more convince that there must be some conspiracy by this private subcontractor to deliberately withheld this tickets, as well as not mail out notices (maybe even mail them to wrong addresses), in order to maximize their earning. I bet, they're getting a percentage of the collection. They probably also get more money when a citation is sent to collection.
The total amount is only $81.00 ($69.00 for fine & penalty and $12.00 for collection fee).
Ordinarily, it's not worth my time to even spend 10 minutes on this. It's tempting to just pay it and forget about it. But I'm really sick and tired of these corrupt City official conniving with private companies to milk the public illegally.
Also, I wonder if they're targeting specific profile. Those who will most likely not contest this and simply pay up. I wonder if owning a late model Lexus and living in Newport Beach in Orange County may have something to do with this as well.
It will be interesting to know how often this thing happen.
Andrew L. 12-25-04.
OK, you can post my message on your website. Just use my first name.
I believe I may actually be there. I found out what the ticket was for after calling them. It was for not having a front license plate (DMV only sent me one license plate). I don't know whether or not it was blown away but I didn't recall see anything beside the car that looks like a ticket.
The thing is, they claimed to have sent four previous notices to my P.O. box before the collection letter, which I never received. One or two misdelivery is credible, but all four not reaching me? I've not missed any other regular mails such as credit card & bank statements that are mailed to me regularly.
I bet this private contractors earn more money from late fines, penalties and collection fees. They also want to make sure that the deadlines for contesting the tickets have all passed before they mail their collection notice.
It's just wrong to make parking violation a money making private enterprise. Does this mean that to achieve their yearly business goals for revenue growth they will have to devise ways and means to encourage for violations?
Andrew L. 12-28-04
Hello K.,
I'm a writer/director living in LA. I just read your article online about how the LA parking patrol tried to scam you. Unfortunately, the reason I was looking for such an article is that I am in a similar situation at the moment. I don't want to take up too much of your time, but you might be the only one who can help me.
My situation is...
1. I committed no violation
2. A patrol attendant knew I committed no violation, yet decided to issue a citation after the fact, without my knowledge
3. I was fined additionally for late fees on a citation I never knew about
4. It took the city so long to tell me about the citation that I can supposedly no longer fight it
On November 30, 2004, I was moving a desk into my apartment in Los Angeles. My lease began December 1, so I wanted to have everything in the day before. I pulled my car into the alley behind my house and safely parked to the side of the road. I put my flashers on, just as a precaution, while we moved the desk. After about five minutes, my wife and I had the desk inside the apartment and I was ready to leave. I returned to my vehicle to find the LA parking patrol looking at my car. When I explained that I was moving a desk, the woman said harshly "You're lucky. Don't do it again." She drove off, and then I left to return to North Hollywood, where I was currently still living.
February 14, 2005, a citation was mailed to a former address of mine in Pennsylvania. [I had recently driven the car cross-country, and (at the time) had not registered for permanent residence in CA.] My parents forwarded the letter to me this past week, and I was furious to see what it said...
It said I owed $83.00 for a "standing in alley" citation on November 30. The letter gave no information on how to contest the citation, only how to pay. I called the hotline and talked to a rep who told me A) it is now too late to contest the citation, even though i was never made aware of it B) $43.00 of my fine were from late fees, which were the fault of LA taking 3 months to get in touch with Pennsylvania and C) municipal code 86.61 says that it is lawful to park in an alley to move "materials and people," which would include my desk.
I called again twice more, talking to 2 more reps, and all of them said that there is nothing I can do. Not one of them had sympathy for my situation, even though it was clear to them that I committed no violation.
WHAT DO I DO? I'm running out of options. If I don't pay within the next 10 days, the fine will double again. Any help you could give would mean the world to me, as I'm fighting a system that everyone tells me I can't beat. I'm not a rich man. I really could use that money. But, more importantly, I can't sleep at night. It bothers me to no end that we live amidst a system so corrupt. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Brian M. 3-5-05
K.,
You can certainly add my case to your website. I think making a movie about this kind of thing would be something like "Falling Down" with Michael Douglas. :-) Better yet, I want to one day combine the efforts of people like you and me into an organization whose sole purpose is to reform LA's unconstitutional ticketing racket. I don't have the money for such a thing right now, but I've got things in the works, and who knows, if one of my films breaks it big...then why not? :-)
I'm going to pay the fine and then start a letter-writing campaign to fight for a refund on this ticket I never saw and late fees I never knew a thing about. We should keep in touch. I appreciate your support.
Sincerely, Brian M. 3-5-05
K.,
I mailed in the payment, as well as a separate letter showing evidence of my innocence and requesting an investigation with the goal of a refund. I'm sure they'll try to ignore me, but I plan to take a cue from "Shawshank Redemption" and write letters every month to anyone and everyone I can for the rest of my life until they eventually have to do something. :-)
-Brian M. 3-9-05
Hello Mr. L.,
My wife and I have been harassed in front of our own home with multiple parking tickets. In one instance when we confronted the parking enforcement officer, we found our tire slashed the following morning (same tire that was marked), and our second car had the parking light smashed. Of course, the evidence is purely circumstantial but highly coincidental, since we have never received any damage before until we threatened the officer with complaints. Do you know of any organized groups that are currently fighting to reform this department, or even better a class action suit. I also believe this department is corrupt and needs complete overhauling. The officers were very rude and threatening.
Thanks for any information you can provide.
Bruce and Lenka L. 4-7-05.
Yes, you may add my name to your website if you would like. Please let me know if there is any group action that organizes to correct this abuse of our delegated authority. Parking enforcement as all enforcement agencies are aware that there greatest strength is our lack in time. This event is upsetting enough that I would seriously consider contributing monies in collaboration with others to seek a class action against this corrupt office. I know this is probably not a big case, but I think this would be a good fit for a junior attorney trying to get their feet wet with class actions, if anyone knows one of that description. Can you send me the link to your website? I was only able to connect to your cached site.
Thank you,
Bruce L. 4-8-05.
I was cited for parking violation on 28th November 2004, at Larrabee Street. The Citation Number was: 20173677. I felt that there were not enough signs to know that the parking spot was permit only. I immediately filed to contest this violation both on paper and then online.
Later I received a letter, dated 01/18/2005, titled "Reminder: Notice of Delinquent Parking Violation". I was surprised. I called the Customer Service Line. I was told that my appeal was under review and that I was sent a letter. I never received the mentioned letter. The person told me that I would be mailed the letter again.
I kept waiting for the result of my appeal until I received another letter, dated 04/05/2005, titled "Unpaid Parking Violation: Final Notice". The amount had also increased from $39 to $80.
I talked to the customer service again. The person told me that I gave the wrong address (didnt write down my apratment number) so I am responsible for not getting any letters and that I should pay up or the amount will continue to increase.
If the city can send me the reminder and final notice at the right address then why can't they send me the letter about the appeal at the correct address as well? I mean, I would have the amount, have I known that the appeal had been dealt with. I think the extra fee is unjustified. Also, the people I talked to at the Customer Service line were rude. I have already paid the original $39 (even though I still am not clear about the status of my appeal). They still want me to pay the late fee. They say there is nothing I could do about it as I made the mistake of not writing down my apartment number and now I have to pay for it.
I feel so upset.
Regards, Asfandyar K. 4-19-05
Hi,
I glanced through your site. So you have contacted the Mayor's Office, talked to TV, ans still nothing?
Have you tried talking to your local representative?
This is the first time in 4 years since I came to America that I have come accross an Organization that has no regards for people (that they are supposedly serving). I just cant believe it. When I was trying to ask if I could speak to someone regarding the unjustified late fee penalty, I was told rudely that I cant do anything about it. The last person I talked to told me that I should pay up or the sity would keep billing me. It is so frustrating.
I havent even seen the review notices to my appeal.
Asfandyar. 4-19-05.
Sure. Add it to the site.
You mentioned a lawsuit. Can we not mobilize and start a campaign. We could raise funds. Get other people who have been abused by the LA Parking Dept. to come forward, and force an investigation.
I may have just bene ignorant, about the LA's Parking system, causing the ticket, but the way the Dept. treated me was unjustified. The people at the customer service are unbelievably rude.
Asfandyar.
I am thinking about starting a Yahoo Groups.
I will try to adevrtise it. You could put a link on your page too. We can try attracting more afectees and getting their stories and then try to do something concrete.
Asfandyar.
Check these pages out:
http://ombudsman.lacounty.info/
http://ombudsman.lacounty.info/contact_us.htm
Would this be of any help?
Asfandyar.
I filed a complaint with the Department of Ombudsman. http://ombudsman.lacounty.info/
http://ombudsman.lacounty.info/contact_us.htm
They finally replied. They say they are looking into my case. I sugest that you do the same.
Asfandyar.
please, tell me more about how bad these people are. It's like they're Nazi, they have no compasion for anyone, they don't care. I'm almost sure they were beat up when they were children.
It's almost like they are a cult with no mercy. I get more lead way from the LAPD when i'm stoped. Do they work off a quota? enough is enough. We pay enough to live in this city and on top of getting a parking ticket makes it unpleasent. what city office is incharge of the parking violations? Mayor's office? Who. When LA city officals look for a change in peoples addtudes towars the way we see city workers they need to keep in mine that the parking officals are more of a pain, and a hinderence then help. We look towards LAPD as heros and firemen as people we can trust but the parking enforcment are just the basterds of the city who generate some sort of revanu for the city. I wouyld actualy be intrested in finding out who much theu bring in monthly as well as yearly.
I revived a ticket for being parked at least 10 feet from a fire hydrant, there was no red paint to indacate the proxcimity of how far i was, not like i carry a tape mesure to check my parking skills, everywhere else i look there is most always RED Paint to indacate how far i'm parked from the fire hydrant in this case there wasn't. Of course i have to pay for it now because they rejected my apeal. What the fuck, that's all i can say anymore, WHAT THE FUCK......................... Please get back to me at this email address --- SAL
Dear K.,
I am interested in seeing the department of parking violations totally banned in Los Angeles. An interesting thought, I would say. Are you interested in the same thing? Perhaps you could offer some suggestions on how to start. I was thinking of getting a copy of the laws that someone got passed somewhere along the line, and then getting petitions signed . . . .
Dorothy L. 11-2-05
Please add me to your list of frustrated Los Angelinos against the mob shakedown we call the Parking Violations Bureau!
Tara S. 11-29-05.
Without getting into a full description: I'll give you what i sent on my online citation then answer any questions.
Here i was parked in a zone right outside my apartment complex driveway with my pass displayed. A new neighbor from an adjacent complex had bought out a temporary pass (one of those written ones) for 10 - 2pm and posted them on the two car lengths in front of my car (the section between driveways holds 3 cars, I was in the last one that was not covered by her sign.) she complained even though my spot wasn't covered by her purchase. The cop wrote the ticket anyway while flirting with the girl, and he even write the accurate time down from her signs! After arguing with him to the point of admitting there was an error, ...still nothing. The girl even admitted that she called falsely. The officers quotable statement was : "I'm the parking king, I've removed your towing fee by calling off the tow truck, ...you should be happy, you saved $250 bucks". I was so pissed, I snapped back, "i didn' SAVE anything I lost $40 because of your arrogant stupidity". He was nervous and knew he did wrong. I just said to the audience, "look hes scared cause he knows he's lying and dishonest, and he's afraid to get caught." it was quite humorous dispite how pissed I was.
This is only one of many abuses that I have heard of in my area. All my neighbors have at least one story of blatant abuse. Where are the news teams who 'uncover' or 'reveal' corruption? I would love to tell the story. I have 8 pictures taK. immediately after the officer put his car in gear and spead on his way. They tell an amazing fact of the corrupt parking officials.
please feel free to repost after taking out any revealing information.
Thanks.
sean
P.S. just to add to the idiocracy, the supposed spots had two temporary signs for two different people on the same day with overlapping time brackets! Wouldn't it be interesting if both parties tried to use their supposed 'spot' for that day?
The exerpt from my comments on the online contest form from www.weho.org
The ticket states: "per complaint / tow away no parking 8am to 1pm." I have photos of both of the signs and none of them show that time bracket. The girl who "complained" was there when the officer wrote the ticket. She was trying to get us moved even though we were nowhere near her spot. When I pointed out that we weren't even parked in that girls zone and she had no right to call the tow truck on us, the officer told us that the ticket was already written and that we should contest it. (The fact that he was flirting with her didn't help his judgement either.)
I also have photos taK. of the car that clearly show: 1) closeups of the signs and temporary signs both of which state a different time zone mentioned on the citation; furthermore it shows 2) position of the signs in relation to my vehicle which is clearly not in the zone and its position clearly (two car lengths) away from the girls 'space'; 3) my car, the permit in it.
This ticket was issued in error! I have 8 different photographs showing the error. And I also have 3 witnesses to the event. I've been hearing about how unfair the west hollywood ticket 'police' are, how they even break the law by writing false tickets which have no way of being proved wrong....this is the first time I've witnessed this firsthand. The officer was rude and arrogant and admitted his error but blamed it on the fact that the ticket was already written. We, the citizens, pay taxes. The city of west hollywood shouldn't have to be unscrupulous or illegal to get money out of us. Lord knows if we (the citizens) had similar practices, and the shoe was on the other foot, we'd be thrown in jail or given a fine! Yet we have no DEFENSE against these crackpot ticket writers, who waste our time and money with the touch of a keypad.
Nevertheless, I will use my photographic evidence and witnesses to rectify this situation if this ticket is not dismissed. I'm also going to notify the news program which uncovers abusive public servants, who aren't fully serving the public, but only trying to make money for the city even if it requires dishonesty.
Sean K. 1-16-06.
I have yet another story.
I was parked legally in a full meter a few streets down while I ate breakfast with my wife at the (name omitted). When we came out, we had a ticket stating that we were: parking in a handicapped spot with no placard visible. There was no handicapp spot! I took digital photos of the spot the curb the signs everything...and now I have to contest that one.
When I was filling out the contestation, I also recognized something....it was the same officer in my story below two weeks prior! I know he remembered me from before...coincidence?
Sean K. 2-3-06.
Here are the photos. I would just ask that you not reveal street names or the (name omitted) because it would be very easy to find our car on the odd chance someone was demented enough to find us. But you could use 'restaurant' and of course 'west hollywood' and if you dare 'officer davis' (at your discretion). I appreciate it. Good luck! I think what you're planning with this site is a VERY good thing.
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the "1" photo shows my recent endeavor. No markings whatsoever of handicap. I know for a fact that its not because I always go to (name omitted) and park in the vacinity. No curb markings, no meter marking, no signs, nothing. The construction stuff was placed there between when I got the ticket and when I took the photo.
The "7" photo is from my first 'altercation' with officer Davis (I emailed you an account of that one about 2 weeks ago). This photo clearly shows the last posted sign (on the tree) which wasn't even the complainers sign. She was just pissed that her moving truck didn't have a full runway to pull into her spot. Of course officer davis flirting with the young girl/model/actress wanted so bad to be a hero. As we waltzed out to move our car at the correct time...we found the grim scene,...Officer Davis directing the towtruck on where to tow us!
Seana K. 2-6-06.
Dear K.:
I would like to add my case to your website or collection to report a case of parking violation abused by City of Los Angeles. Here is my story:
I parked my car at a space near 972 Hilgard Ave, Los Angeles, near UCLA, Westwood area at 1:15 pm on January 9, 2006. The street allows cars parked for 2 hours between 8 am to 6 pm. When I returned at 3:15 pm, a ticket was on my windshild, indicating my car had parked there from 12:02 pm (the Time Marked) to 02:12 pm (Time Issued). Obviously, the parking enforcement officer just tried to fill his/her daily quota. Later I found a guy having his car parked in front of mine also got a ticket. He mentioned that he was abused by the same reason, ticketing to innocent people who parked legally.
After searching websites for many hours to find how to fight back such a corrupted practice, I feel encouraged to write to you about my story and tell the guy who got his ticket at the same time. But I feel discouraged to contest to the Parking Violation Bureau because reading many stories show that it will take too much time and energy to fight back via the regular manner. In addition, I have no way to prove that I parked my car between 1:15 to 3:15 pm. So I deceided to just pay the fine for $30, but do other tasks to fight it back.
I respect you that you are providing a way to fight back for justice and American spirit, against the corrupted city agency and practice. Do you mind giving your name, website address (http://www.SLAPEC.org), and e-mail address to those who might have been abused by LA Parking Enforcement Officers? When more cases are compiled, as what you indicated at the end of your website, a class law suit against those who have been wrongly enforcing parking law may be possible. Thanks for your good work.
Best regards,
Rong Y. 1-27-06.
I am a traffic officer employed by the city of L.A.
Although there are no daily quotas, the dept. will pay overtime pay at the rate of time and one half, for any officer who writes min 8 tickets per hour. Have been advised to be aggressive. e.g; cite vehicles even when occupied by driver, as opposed to asking motorist to move, as we were told in training.
Also I have been pressured by Lieut. to impound vehicles that according to city policy should have been only cited.
Recently the City learned that the \"parking over 72 hours\", LAMC 80.73.2 , impound law was written incorrectly. As of now not being enforced. Corrected law to go in effect July 2006. Who knows how many vehicles have been impounded incorrectly. Shouldn\'t the City refund those impound fees.
That\'s all for now. If interested in more, send reply
from "Don\'t want to be bad Traffic Officer" 6-30-06
ps. I returned to England to see my family and when I got back I saw a ticket in the mail which doubled in price on Oct. 11. I called up to pay on October 12 and explained that I had been out of the country and was told "tough luck, the city does not recognize that excuse, you cannot appeal." It was the first I had known about the downtown ticket as there was no ticket on my windshield and the letter saying the ticket would be doubled was sent Sept. 27 and enforced Oct. 12. Whatever happened to 21 days?
Nick 10-15-06
I parked in a street with signs of no parking on thursday and on the other side no parking on fridays. All of a sudden one day they changed the signs to \"no parking anytime\" with no notice. I got a ticket, I called them and they said they put up notice before changing the signs, I never saw a notice.
Oscar 2-14-07
I have found a clear and consistent pattern of illegal issuance of tickets throughout the Greater Los Angeles region (including Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Hollywood, and L.A. proper) The common denominator in these cases is the Parking Enforcement vendor (LCD Parking Services) which is a private, for profit entity. As a result, I am actively researching the possibility of a class action suit against all local jurisdictions using LCD for Parking Enforcement. What I\'d like to know is what you\'ve done to date? Have you contacted any local attorneys? Has anyone expressed an interest in handling this case?
As was the case with your ticket, I was given several tickets which were wrongfully issued, and the jurisdictions in question refused my appeals in spite of photos demonstrating their gross oversights in originally issuing the tickets. I withheld payment, which subsequently lead the City of West Hollywood to garnish my 2006 California Income Tax return (in the amount of $250) to cover tickets. Further, my vehicle registration was withheld for 2007, causing potential further fines.
It is my contention that local officials have conspired to orchestrate events to avoid a losing lawsuit, as I am a politically active, and vocal opponent of many local Democratic Party officials. I believe they\'ve attempted to craft a strategy, whereby the only jurisdiction I didn\'t appeal was the jurisdiction tasked with withholding the sums in question, thereby creating cause for their argument that I didn\'t properly see the system through.
I\'d be very interested in speaking with you further to discuss your own situation and the actions you\'ve taK. to date.
Sincerely,
Robert. B.
I was sent a notice in August 2007 that a ticket I never got in May 2007 went into penalty and is now $174. I was at work in Santa Monica at the time the ticket was issued in Marina del Rey. The car was registered under my mother\'s name Gitty Rahbar and she tried fighting it to no avail. A couple of years ago I got another one on Melsose when I was at work in West LA. I have a feeling somebody has my/car information and fills out a ticket when quota his/her is short and don\'t know where to go to file a complaint.
Nickaun V. 9-13-07
i found your website while researching confusing street signs that cause one\'s car to be impounded. this happened to me last night just south of hollywood blvd on ivar. there were three signs posted: 2hr parking 8to 6 m-f, no parking 6pm to 3am sunday only and a temporary no parking monday only sign. i parked on ivar on saturday night at 7:30pm, clearly thinking i was abiding by street sign regulations. the catch was another sign posted on each corner of the block but not within sight if one parks in the middle of the block. this sign said no parking from 6pm to 3am and didn\'t state any day. in other words, no cars were allowed to park on the street any day between those hours. it was impossible to see the sign the way i parked AND when i walked toward hollywood blvd, the sign on that corner faces north, coincidently the same direction i was walking!!!
i am returning to take photos of the area during the day. a security guard from a nearby danceclub/bar said that the confusing signs always catch parkers unaware and the city tows batches of cars 3to 4 nights a week! i wasn\'t the only one standing on the block last night angry and frustrated, there were two other people whose cars had been towed and who were equally as confused as i about the unclear signs.
do you think i have a case against the city? i am also going to photograph clearly marked streets with similar parking limitations that i am familiar with. if i recall correctly, these streets have signs posted on EVERY post not just on each corner. how ridiculous is that?!
your advice would be greatly appreciated. also, any tips you have as far as how to address the department of transportation hollywood division would be great.
thank you,
M. Flores 9-23-07
This is 3rd time I am getting a parking ticket in LA.
First time I got it in a mistake and since I was parked in a parking lot at that time they accepted it as a proof after freaking 3-4 letters to them since its impossible to reach them by phone.
Second time I parked on the hills where you can see the sunset and about 20 minutes after sunset they gave a ticket for $50 - which I paid and now they send me amount due $60 since apparently I did not pay on time. HERE\'S A CATCH - most collection agencies are not allowed to take interest of more than 15% annually. this is more than 100% monthly. It is clearly illegal.
Third time - same day I parked in Santa Monica where parking meters were always free after 10PM - yet it appeared they changed them to 2AM. Got a ticket for $35.
Please let me know if there\'s a class action for anything they do and if I can join.
N. Petrov 11-6-07
Wrongly ticketed a full car length from the red zone. Appeal denied b/c street sign was not included (despite prominent landmarks). received letter to pay and option to request hearing with five days before day date remaining. paid ticket and requested hearing. hearig denied b/c payment 1 day late and additional penalties of $100 added. etc. etc. etc.
P. Horn 12-11-07
YOu and I spoke last year. I\'d like to follow-up, as my refusal to pay tix issued without a violation has resulted in my car being impounded and I\'m now attempting tolocate an attorney to address the immediate issue, as well as the underlying issues.
R. Boleyn 12-13-07
(This is a criticism of this web site from a nameless individual:)
This message is from , (not stated)
Do you realize how much time and energy you\'re wasting on this? There are a million other people who get tickets and everyone has a reason or excuse.
I'm sorry but creating a website to trash someones job doesn\'t seem fair. You went through what you went through, get over it. We all make mistakes.
S-Pk 12 1-8-08
To this, I can only say, Where would we be if George Washington or Patrick Henry had just paid the tea tax and gotten over it. They want us to pay the extortion money and get over it. A lot of innocent people are hurt by these false charges and "getting over it" only allows it to continue. Wrong is wrong, even when wearing a uniform and a badge. A bully is a bully regardless of position. The officer who gave me my ticket didn't make a mistake, he knew the sign was wrong.
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Copyright © 2000 - 2006, Kenneth A. Larson. All Rights Reserved. Website content including photographic and graphic images may not be redistributed for use on another website. |
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