Posted on 11/29/2005 10:58:54 AM PST by BurbankKarl
LOS ANGELES -- Hundreds of angry car owners claimed their vehicles were unfairly towed Sunday during Hollywood's annual Christmas parade, but city officials said temporary "no parking" signs had been posted well in advance of the parade.
The towed vehicles were parked on local streets and were towed by the City of Los Angeles.
"We impounded 548 vehicles and issued roughly 600 citations for parking in a temporary no-stopping zone, which was prohibited on this particular day," said Jimmy Price, Chief of Parking Enforcement.
Many affected drivers said there was no way for them to know about the temporary no-parking zone.
"I'm very mad," one woman told NBC4. "There was no sign where I parked."
Hundreds of stranded drivers stormed official police garages to get their cars back. Many complained they should never have been towed because warning signs were blocked or missing.
"See this tree right here?" a woman asked, showing a picture she had taken on her cell phone camera. "Impossible to see the sign."
"We saw a police officer, and he wrote us a note that said there was no sign," another woman told NBC4.
Transportation officials said they ticket and tow hundreds of cars every year at events in Hollywood, like the Oscars and the Christmas parade. And every year, they said, drivers of towed cars complain about the department's efforts to clear the streets that absorb traffic when major boulevards are blocked.
"They are still in violation and still subject to a tow," Price said. "The law only requires we post a sign at the beginning of the block and that it is visible. But the policy is to post additional signs on the block."
Officials told NBC4 it is department policy to review photographs and witness statements if a driver requests a post-impound hearing.
One owner paid $200 to retrieve his van, and he said he has no plans to appeal.
"I'm OK now," Javier Valenzuela told NBC4.
Others are not so sure.
"$177, that's not fair," an angry woman said.
Owners of vehicles towed to official police garages have 10 days to appeal. The parking chief praises his staff but says if they don't have an ironclad case, the impound fee may be refunded.
In a snow emergency, residents in Boston clear their parking spaces and reserve them with lawn furniture.
I hate to say it, but the residents in Boston have it over the public officials in Hollywood. Close call,but they do. LOL!
This happens in Chicago all the time.
The city hall tyrants of Los Angeles at work. Hundreds of irate citizens all with exactly the same story are far more believable than the idiots at City Hall.
Their creativity never ceases.
IT'S THE MONEY, SUCKAH !!!!
CHA --- CHING !!!
That says it all. They come around & put up temporary cardboard No Parking signs & then start to tow the cars that are parked on the street. It happens all the time & is disgusting. Any time they want to do tree trimming or construction, they just slap up signs & tow. Especially around Westwood. You have to call around to find out which lot has your car & then pay impound & towing charges. If you are out of town, you may not know for a couple of days that your car has been towed.
While I was in college my car was towed & once they dented it, but I had no way to prove the dent wasn't there before.
CHA --- CHING !!!
Out of curiosity, what non-financial consequence do you propose that would create an incentive to avoid parking illegally?
I never get over it.
The names of the people that hold various offices.
I was once arrested by officer Lawless.
I swear it's true ... that was his name.
I'll never forget it.
I suspect that the citizens have a case here. I don't think that the citizens parked illegally. I think the city is looking for ways to generate more money. Since it may cost the citizen more money to fight it out in court, many will just "pay up" on the suspect tickets.
That is where I am coming from.
"Jimmy Price, Chief of Parking Enforcement."
That name certainly earns a double word score.
That is where I am coming from.
You don't think the city wanting to keep the parade route clear had anything at all to do with not wanting those cars parked in the way?
Here's another take on this story. I worked as a 911 dispatcher in a busy university town. On game day, most of our calls were from businesses with their parking lots full of people NOT shopping in their stores, from citizens who couldn't park in front of their houses, get into their garages, get through their alley, etc. When 'special events' are being held, SOME people choose to park their cars in the dumbest places. And then they have the 'balls' to complain about being towed. The ones that ticked me off the most were elderly people who had clearly designated handicapped places in front of their homes and some big rig would park in there. How nice for the elderly person in a wheelchair or on oxygen having to try and get home.
But by and large, most people follow the rules and try not to park illegally. Thank God for them.
ping
You betcha. These violators parked in conflict with a city ordinance. Their intentions may have been innocent but their actions were not.
Even a third grader in California can reasonably expect restrictions on parking at a large, outdoor, public event to preserve private property rights. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse ... unless you're a liberal ... and then it makes all the difference in the world.
The reasonable adults knew they were caught and paid their fine. Liberals and the MSM, just like children, whined to the world about their good intentions and blamed society for not protecting them from their own greed and laziness.
Thank God I'm surrounded by adults on this conservative forum.
There is a section of I-95 near me that "reduces" to 55 miles per hour through the city limits. At least once a month the State Police run a speed trap. They get about one car a minute for an hour or so. Big bucks for the state. They are positioned just over a little rise so you can't see them until it is too late. Oh, and it is right before the exit to a large mall, so always busy.
When it comes to local politicians and government officials, it is always the money.
Nothing but a big money maker for the city.
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