With this post, we diverge from our central theme of photography and photographers’ rights to just peoples’ rights — that is to say, our rights as people to have our tax dollars well-spent and our city employees follow the very laws they enforce.
Case in point: this video, taken this past week in East Hollywood, where our dogged local parking enforcement officer uses the loading zone as a parking spot for her lunch break. This is the same parking officer who tirelessly drives up and down our neighborhood blocks all day long, looking for cars on the wrong side of the street on street cleaning days and in red zones and with expired meters.
Somewhere we missed it in the Los Angeles city code where parking enforcement officers don’t need to obey the law. Wow, what a job perk! If someone has a copy of that, please send it our way.
*Shot with the Vievu wearable recording device.
It’s legal for parking enforcement to park in the loading zone, what’s not legal or ok is this:
http://www.thebusbench.com/2009/01/meter-maid-goes-shopping-parks-in-turn-lane-during-rush-hour.html
Shopping during rushhour on a feeder street (in right hand turn lane) and runs off with her lights off…
Browne
Even when LADAT parking enforcement officers are not conducting official business but rather on their lunch breaks?
Are you sure of this? Do you have the municipal code?
I don’t have a code, but I think it’s like with the cops. I’m not sure don’t quote me this is wikipedia like info from my brain. I’ll look it up and get back to you.
It just doesn’t make sense (though its annoying) that if you’re on the clock in a city vehicle that you would pay money which would really be the city paying the city or take up a metered parking space (which could be more money for the city) for thirty minutes, when a loading zone is available.
I know even on Sundays that lay people can park in loading zones.
It’s still a good video and still represents the hypocrisy of the system though, even if it’s ok that he parks on the loading it’s still bs, but I don’t know for sure if they can or can not.
Browne
They routinely park in 3-minute passenger loading zones on Hope St. between 7th-8th streets downtown while they workout at the Bally’s Gym inside Macy’s Plaza. on their lunch hour, i guess.
browne
well, when LADOT vehicles are in a yellow loading zone which is intended for commercials vehicles the parking enforcement officer’s vehicle has the potential of prohibiting commerce by not allowing a commercial vehicle to conduct business accordingly.
i don’t think it’s legal. if it is, then it’s BS. also, when the officers are on lunch break they aren’t working for the city. they’re on break from their official duties.
just because someone drives a city vehicle it does not make them exempt from the law. i think jimmy justice has proven this fact in new york city. however, we all know how city officials enjoy giving themselves special privileges, and like taking advantage of the “authority” they have
i really think it’s just something people have accepted for some time now and just look the other way — particular their fellow officers
let us know what you find. thanks!
There are exceptions, but here is LAMC 80.56(e)2, dealing with commercial loading (yellow) zones:
2. No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle in a commercial loading zone, except that commercial vehicles may stop or stand for the purpose of loading or unloading freight for the time necessary therefor, but not to exceed 30 minutes, except as provided in Section 88.01.1 of this chapter. Passenger vehicles may stop or stand for the purpose of loading or unloading passengers and their personal baggage, and then only for the time necessary therefor but in no event for more than five minutes. Such commercial loading zones shall be in effect during the hours and on the days indicated by posted signs, or if none, between the hours of 7:00 o’clock A.M. and 6:00 o’clock P.M. on any day except Sunday.
joe m-
i think the “exception” is city officials looking the other way.
i work as a foot courier, only a step away (pun intended) from the drivers who absolutely rely on loading zones to get their work done. when one is working to-the-minute, it’s no fun driving around the block a few times to find a space. even if the behaviour in the video is somehow legal, it’s very, very wrong.
mr walker-
the behavior of who in the video is “very, very wrong”?
do you mean us? or the LADOT parking enforcement officer who took advantage of her “authority” and parked ILLEGALLY in a yellow loading only zone during her lunch break?
“it’s no fun driving around the block a few times to find a space.”
welcome to the club
Go to the courthouse and file an “Affidavit for probable cause for criminal complaint.” basically yes you can give cops or anyone a ticket.
Google it and see how it can be done.
That would be sweet
Beautiful! I love it!
Keep taking vids like this one. Funny how they just “fee the scene” when they are caught in the act.