Motorists claim L.A. handing out tickets at broken parking meters. Has it happened to you?

Between 10% and 12% of the parking meters in Los Angeles fail at any given time, according to a recent study.

Officials aren't supposed to give parking tickets to motorists parked at broken meters, but some residents complain the city is doing just that.

Amir Sedadi, assistant general manager of the Transportation Department, assured city council members "the policy of the Department of Transportation is not to issue any citations to broken meters." But in some instances, Sedadi said, broken meters can inexplicably snap back into operation, which could be why some Angelenos have been ticketed.

But The Times' Maeve Reston reports that some are demanding more action. "There's a lot of short fuses in the world, people are out of work and out of jobs. . . . I want to have a friendly, efficient" Transportation Department, said Councilman Tom LaBonge. "If someone says 'I got a ticket,' henceforth, 'from a failed meter,' we want to know about that, because we don't do that." 

What do you think the city is doing? Have you gotten a ticket at a broken meter? Share your experiences and thoughts below.

Photo credit: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Anthony]

Aren't there signs on some that actually say you can get a ticket if the meter is broken?

[Jason F]

My boss got a ticket a broken meter and was furious. Thankfully, the DoT voided the ticket when told that the meter was broken. My boss assumes the city fixed the broken meter and didn't ticket her, and then perhaps the next meter monitor to come by ticketed the car. This seems plausible, and the DoT should come up with some way to prevent it.

[Andy]

Yes, I have received a ticket for parking at a broken meter in Hollywood.

[brodie012]

If the meter don't work, then the spot is free. You can't tell its out of order until you get out of the car. I refuse to get back in the car, merge back into traffic and scrounge for another spot. That is criminal.

[Marc Glassberg]

I was parked on a side street off Sunset and Highland in Hollywood last summer and the parking meter was bagged and labeled as broke. but I STILL FOUND A TICKET ON MY WINDSHIELD. I wound up paying $65 after sending in a defense to the parking commission.

[Eileen Lyon]

This happened to me on Ventura Boulevard in Tarzana, and I called the number on the meter to report it, but got ticketed anyway. When I protested the ticket, it was denied, and then when I didn't pay the ticket, got additional penalties that doubled the amount. I finally paid it because it wasn't worth my time anymore.

[esteban]

"Have you gotten a ticket at a broke meter. " Seriously? The word is "broken." And there should be a question mark.

[Nan Tavella]

Received a ticket from a broken meter. Called the phone # on the meter, reported it broken, paid the ticket, received a refund. What is ridiculous is that as I was being ticketed I pointed out to the officer/ticket giver that it was broken. He issued the ticket anyway. What a waste of taxpayer dollars.

[Tony]

It was about five years ago, but one of those arrogant meter maids told me they give tickets at broken meters, and that we're not supposed to park at one. Since then I never have, now you're saying she was wrong?

[Elektra]

FOUR tickets. I've received FOUR at broken meters in the past year. Why that many? You can't park without finding dozens of broken meters nowadays and meter-readers ticket you regardless for their quotas. I don't even shop in certain areas any more because half the meters are broken and you end up with a ticket anyway.

[GM]

Yes it has and when I called LA City Parking Enforcement (or whatever it's called) to complain I was told, in no uncertain terms, that I should never park at a broken meter in the City of Los Angeles because "...it was City policy to cite cars parked at broken meters."

And that's a direct quote from the person who answered the phone. This was just a few months ago.

[MRoberts]

Yes, just recently I was given a ticket at a broken meter, and the meter maid even wrote "broken meter" on the ticket.

Vermin. They are just vermin. And unless you have hours of time to spend battling them, you have no chance of contesting anything -- and if you do contest, most of the time they just end up tacking huge fees and doubling your fines until you are totally screwed over.

It's a complete racket.

[Pad Ty]

The city of L.A. is putting parking meters everywhere and restricted parking everywhere else. Ten years ago, you could still go anywhere in this city and park your car. Now you can't park anywhere. The whole restricted parking thing is a huge scam to make the city as much revenue as possible.

OF COURSE they ticket you if you park in a space with a broken meter... that's why I never do it. People are surprised to hear this? They really want us to believe they care about anything other than generating as much money as possible?

[Anonymous]

Totally happened to me at Pershing Square about 6 months ago...and I paid it. It was quite an expensive ticket, too (I think something like $60). Unfortunately, I thought it was legit.

What garbage. I was robbed!

[Astonished]

First of all, just because the meter is not functioning doesn't make the spot free. Technically, vehicles parked a broken meters can be cited for the time limit posted on the signs on that side of the street. Most traffic officers don't do that, but instead by-pass the vehicle and report the meter. Sometimes it's difficult to see if the meter is broken. Some people jam them with foreign objects or put bags over perfectly functioning meters to try to get free parking. I've even seen people deliberately jam metters after getting a citation so they can get it waived. So the onus shouldn't just be put on the Department of Transportation or the Traffic Officers. Giving tickets is just one duty these officers do. They also assist with traffic control and have saved many lives.

Oh, and here's a thought. If you get a citation from a traffic officer and you want them to listen to you and sympathize, try running over and screaming at them at the top of you lungs, call them every name in the book. Go ahead. They'll really want to help you then.

[Anonymus]

I had unknowingly parked at a broken meter in Los Feliz & made sure to tell the parking officer I saw issuing citations around the corner. He said I should really look for another parking spot but had me describe my car & put a note on the meter "broken". I got lucky.

[x-bo]

Anthony is right- there is some sort of disclaimer on some parking meters that I've seen that says you can get a ticket, even if the meter is broken. THAT is the problem- these disclaimers are wrong and should be removed from parking meters!!

[clark]

My wife recently got home in early early morning after working a late shift. She parked at a meter on 6th street. I woke up the next morning to put change in the meter for her and noticed it said "Fail."
I also noticed that her car was the ONLY car parked on 6th street in front of a meter at that time (7:50 am). Now why of all the meters that my wife could've chosen, did this one happen to fail??? Very suspicious because all the other meters around her car were working just fine.

[Criminal Metermaids]

I got a ticket for parking in a spot that was missing the meter, post and all. It is right outside my apartment and is a completely legal spot for up to one hour, but I still got ticketed after only 25 minutes. No chalk marking a tire or anything. When I contested the ticket, I was told that my information is incorrect, that there is, in fact, a meter in that particular spot (they put a new meter in 2 weeks after the ticket was issued!).

After not paying the fine for a b.s. ticket, fees added up and I continued fighting it. Four months and $150+ later I had to pay the fine so my car registration could be renewed. Seems like criminal behavior and still infuriates me.

[Angie]

Thanks, Esteban, I was about to point this out as well. The article reads like the comment section!

[david mullins]

i have received at least 3 parking tickets on beverly blvd near el coyote restaurant within the last 5 years. the meters still had the failed notice blinking upon return to my car. it was always the same story. post the bail and set a court date. as with any infraction that is issued by the city or a peace officer, it is always the same. the l.a. superior court website makes it easy to plead guilty and pay your fine but offers little or no information on ALL the legal options available for disputing it. want to go to superior court and post bail? there is only one window open to do that but MANY open to plead guilty and pay the fine. parking enforcement is about REVENUE for the city, on streets that are funded by your tax dollars. you pay for the privilege of parking on streets that you have already paid for.

[JB]

I was given a ticket at those new electronic meters. It is an are next to the courts where it is always hard to find a parking space. The meter indicated "fail." It was the only space available, so I did not bother to futilely waste my time looking for another space. I figured I would be safe since I knew that the rule was that if the meter is broken we are allowed to park for free. To my surprise, when I came out, the display indicated "expired" and a ticket was on my windshield. I was going to contest it but was so busy that I ran out of time--they do not allow enough time to fight these. The Times should have included a contact number, email, or something where we can report these things.

[El Joe]

Just another evil way for this corrupt city to rape the public and raise money for their broke selves.
Parking should be free anyways.

[Andrew White]

I have gotten a ticket at a failed meter. This is not ok, the city denying this is complete BS

[asun]

Granted, I did not originally learn to drive here, but I was taught that parking at broken meters was the same as parking at expired meters, and you were courting a (legal) ticket if you did so. I would imagine this varies city by city, though.