The Los Angeles Department of Transportation announced Tuesday that they have failed to collect an estimated $15 million in unpaid parking tickets from “scofflaws,” or frequent law violator.
LADOT says that 73 percent of cases in which the department identified repeat offenders illegally parked, the attendant issued a citation instead of calling for a boot or to have the car impounded.
Traffic officers have the power to impound vehicles with five or more unpaid parking tickets. About $18.8 million remains unpaid by “scoffers” who have been notified that they exceed the five-ticket minimum for impounding.
Controller Wendy Greuel said tougher enforcement in those cases could have generated as much as $9.2 million.
Controller Wendy Greuel and LADOT Interim General Manager Amir Sedadi speak about 'scofflaws' and fines at a press conference. (Video by: Andrew Magne)
Greuel also said that cracking down on law violators is imperative now, especially given the city’s financial condition.
“In light of the budget deficit that the city of Los Angeles is facing in upcoming fiscal years, we must ensure that we are enforcing the laws on the books and that no opportunities for collecting revenues are missed,’’ Greuel said.
