Suing the City for Unfair Parking Law Enforcement - Opinions please! (Los Angeles: sale, buying)

[romeoplank]

I recently shot an independent film in an office building on Ventura Blvd in Sherman Oaks. Many of my cast and crew parked along Ventura on day 1 with the express intent of feeding the meters every 2 hours. The posted signs read, "2 hour parking," and the meters have a 2 hour limit.

We all kept our meters full, but after the first two hours were up, we were all ticketed for not having moved our vehicles...

This is deceptive, as the requirement that the vehicle must be moved every 2 hours is not implicit in the posted "2 hour parking" warning. In other words, a meter of time with a 2 hour limit implies only a limit on TIME, and constitutes a sale thereof when the meter is paid. I am buying 2 hours of time measured by that meter. Therefore, without any posting referring to the necessary removal of my vehicle after 2 hours, I do not understand how the city can justify a fine, as long as the meter is continually paid. I'm seriously considering filing a class action against the city.

Please, share your stories and opinions.

Thanks.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by romeoplank

I recently shot an independent film in an office building on Ventura Blvd in Sherman Oaks. Many of my cast and crew parked along Ventura on day 1 with the express intent of feeding the meters every 2 hours. The posted signs read, "2 hour parking," and the meters have a 2 hour limit.

We all kept our meters full, but after the first two hours were up, we were all ticketed for not having moved our vehicles...

This is deceptive, as the requirement that the vehicle must be moved every 2 hours is not implicit in the posted "2 hour parking" warning. In other words, a meter of time with a 2 hour limit implies only a limit on TIME, and constitutes a sale thereof when the meter is paid. I am buying 2 hours of time measured by that meter. Therefore, without any posting referring to the necessary removal of my vehicle after 2 hours, I do not understand how the city can justify a fine, as long as the meter is continually paid. I'm seriously considering filing a class action against the city.

Please, share your stories and opinions.

Thanks.

I don't know what is right and what's wrong. I know thngs don't always seem fair, but as for sueing the city: don't waste your time...as for a class action, it take a huge number of participants to file a class action, not just a handful or that is my understanding....

[yoyoma02]

I 100% agree with you that parking in this city is a nightmare. And, I think it hurts LA more than helps. I feel like little things like that drive people AWAY from the city, rather than bring them in. Not only is it a hassle for people parking their cars, but it hurts business, creates more traffic, and is ultimately only there to bring in more revenue.

That being said, the law is that you are supposed to move your vehicles after the 2 hours has expired. For example, Santa Monica is currently installing senors at parking spaces, so the meter won't take any more money after your car has been there for 2 hours. You will have to literally move your car and hunt for another parking space, instead of just dumping more money into a meter.

[Exitus Acta Probat]

Originally Posted by romeoplank

I recently shot an independent film in an office building on Ventura Blvd in Sherman Oaks. Many of my cast and crew parked along Ventura on day 1 with the express intent of feeding the meters every 2 hours. The posted signs read, "2 hour parking," and the meters have a 2 hour limit.

We all kept our meters full, but after the first two hours were up, we were all ticketed for not having moved our vehicles...

This is deceptive, as the requirement that the vehicle must be moved every 2 hours is not implicit in the posted "2 hour parking" warning. In other words, a meter of time with a 2 hour limit implies only a limit on TIME, and constitutes a sale thereof when the meter is paid. I am buying 2 hours of time measured by that meter. Therefore, without any posting referring to the necessary removal of my vehicle after 2 hours, I do not understand how the city can justify a fine, as long as the meter is continually paid. I'm seriously considering filing a class action against the city.

Please, share your stories and opinions.

Thanks.

There is nothing deceptive about it. You broke the law...case closed. Furthermore, this "lawsuit" and your accompanying film are nothing less than a shakedown, and as a taxpayer, I resent your actions and hope your lawsuit is unsuccessful.

[CALGUY]

I would say in this instance you don't have a case to move forward with.
The law is what it is.
I remember about seven or eight years ago, I got a parking ticket for parking my car on my own front lawn, which I later learned was against the law.
I was in the process of re-sealing the blacktop, and because I would not be able to use the driveway for a couple of days, (and I didn't want to park on the street) I opted to put the car on the front lawn.
I put my car cover over it because I knew I wouldn't be using it for a while.
To my surprise, when I removed the cover two days later, there was a parking ticket.
I couldn't believe I had gotten a ticket for parking on my own property.
Well, this did not sit well with me, so I took on the city parking enforcement.
It was not the amount of money the ticket was for, but the principal involved.
Two points I made at the hearing (which by the way took almost a year to finally get) were, the officer who ticketed the vehicle came on private property without due cause, and secondly he, or she conducted an illegal search of the vehicle by lifting the car cover off and looking for the vin number and registration tags on the plate.
Both of these actions were done without benefit of a legal search warrant.
I won the case.
Bob.

[greggd1]

I feel for you as you thought you were doing the right thing. I dont park on the street that much at all anymore but I also dont have front plates on some of my cars, so that is primarily the driving factor.

There is a 2 hour parking limit and during that 2 hour limit, you have to pay. So the sign states there is a 2 hour limit and for a fee. I don't think you have a case and it will be a waste of time.

[saybanana]

I thought everyone knew you have to move your cars after your expired allowed time. Ive seen those parking enforcers put chalk marks where your tires are and can tell if you been there too long. Somehow I imagine theyll have an app now to tell the minute a meter expires and literally waits there and watches the time tick down to zero, then gives the ticket.

[VLWH]

Originally Posted by Exitus Acta Probat

There is nothing deceptive about it. You broke the law...case closed. Furthermore, this "lawsuit" and your accompanying film are nothing less than a shakedown, and as a taxpayer, I resent your actions and hope your lawsuit is unsuccessful.

I don't understand, how is the OP's film a shakedown.

[wehotex]

Originally Posted by yoyoma02

I 100% agree with you that parking in this city is a nightmare. And, I think it hurts LA more than helps. I feel like little things like that drive people AWAY from the city, rather than bring them in. Not only is it a hassle for people parking their cars, but it hurts business, creates more traffic, and is ultimately only there to bring in more revenue.

That being said, the law is that you are supposed to move your vehicles after the 2 hours has expired. For example, Santa Monica is currently installing senors at parking spaces, so the meter won't take any more money after your car has been there for 2 hours. You will have to literally move your car and hunt for another parking space, instead of just dumping more money into a meter.

I came across one of those when I was eating at the Calif chicken cafe on wilshire bl a few months ago. The meter had some flashing red lights. It's sad! Gone are the days when you could feel "lucky" by driving into a spot that had some leftover minutes on it from the car that left. The traffic cops used to mark the rear tire with a yellow mark which would let them know if that car had been there when the cop made the previous round. It was possible to rub it off with a rag. I'm not sure what they do now.
I don't miss the feeling of always feeling that the city was "out to get me". Those people that are from other parts of the country will not understand what it's like to never be able to find parking spots and having to pay for most parking. Street sweeping, parking meters, outrageous valet fees. Los Angeles was not a place for wusses, constantly had to be looking over my shoulders to lookout for parking bandits (meter people).
I'm not sure if you could be successful in your suit. You could make better use of your time.

I do know that the COLA would allow a one-time rescission of the ticket if you could prove that your vehicle was "immobile". If you mail them a receipt from a mechanic or a receipt from an auto parts store along with your citation, they would usually dismiss it assuming that the date was within 24 hrs from the citation date/time. I left Calif owing almost $900 worth of citations and fines not looking back. It is a cruel, unjust system and only exists to make $$ for the municipalities that thrive on the active person's parking misfortunes.

[tigerprint456]

I don't think you have a case. If the sign says 2 hour limit you can only be parked there 2 hours. Longer than that leaves you open to a ticket regardless if money is in the meter because you parked longer than the time limit. The only way around that is to move the car every 2 hours.