City Council

(17) 26-0906-S6 TRANSPORTATION and PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEES' REPORT relative to establishing a process for residents seeking relief from parking-related penalties resulting from extraordinary circumstances. Recommendations for Council action, pursuant to Motion (Jurado – Lee): 1. INSTRUCT the Department of Transportation (DOT) to report on implementing a system for the cancellation of citations given to people who were impacted by "extenuating circumstances" during the Boyle Heights warehouse fire per California Vehicle Code (CVC) Section 40215(a). The report should include the status of current programs that are in place that allow for the reduction, waiver, or deferral of citation payments for people who are facing extenuating circumstances in accordance with Assembly Bill 1299 (Bryan) and CVC Sections 40215(a) and 40215(c)(7). 2. INSTRUCT the DOT, in coordination with the City Attorney, to create a definition of what constitutes "extenuating circumstances,” for the purpose of this policy; this should include, but not be limited to: a. Any stay-at-home order issued by any City Department. b. A declaration of Local Emergency at the City, County, or State level. c. Financial Hardship due to the crisis affecting them. 3. INSTRUCT the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) and Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to report on the towing operations practiced during the Boyle Heights warehouse fire. The report should include outreach efforts the Departments exercised to contact each owner and how they advised them of their rights under California law. 4. INSTRUCT the DOT, in collaboration with LAPD, to report on the feasibility of initiating a post-storage impound hearing for each affected vehicle owner or, at a minimum, provide written notice offering such a hearing without requiring the owner to request one first, and allow that hearing to be conducted remotely. 5. REQUEST the Chief of Police to issue a Department-wide notice, bulletin, or other written directive to all sworn personnel, advising officers of the proper statutory authority governing the relocation or impoundment of vehicles during emergency incidents. The notice shall clarify the circumstances under which CVC Section 22654(e) authorizes the temporary relocation or storage of lawfully parked vehicles that obstruct emergency services during a disaster or emergency, and distinguish that authority from other impound statutes. Fiscal Impact Statement: Neither the City Administrative Officer nor the Chief Legislative Analyst has completed a financial analysis of this report.