If you thought it was challenging to find Los Angeles parking, wait until you start stacking up those Los Angeles parking tickets! You will realize how easy it is to find parking after seeing how difficult it is to avoid parking tickets. The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) is famously efficient, and they’ll ticket you for even the smallest violations.
Expiring a parking meter by even a minute will result in you getting a ticket because of how active LADOT is in its duty. LA has struggled to find solutions to its long-lasting parking problems. Therefore, traffic enforcement cannot overlook violations easily. That’s precisely why knowing how to avoid parking tickets is essential.
It is also always best to reserve parking in Los Angeles in advance. Not sure how to go about it? Here’s a detailed guide with quick tips and tricks to avoid Los Angeles parking tickets.
Watch Out for Special Parking Zones
You might see a vacant street parking zone and think that it’s okay to park there. However, if the vacant spot happens to be a blue curb or residential parking zone, you could be in for a rude surprise. Knowing where you can go for Los Angeles parking and knowing where not to go helps you stay clear of expensive parking tickets.
Los Angeles follows a colored curb parking system, and unless you have a disabled parking permit, you will be booked for parking in blue or red curbs (no parking zone). You are also supposed to have a Residential Parking Permit (RPP) to be eligible for parking in residential zones. If you don’t have an RPP, you will be ticketed for parking in residential zones.
Keep Time Limits in Check
When it comes to street cleaning schedules and parking meter time limits, it is essential to focus on time limits. If you don’t pay enough attention to time limits and park longer than allowed, you will be booked. There are around 35,000 on-street metered parking spaces, and even so, there is a high demand for vacant metered parking spaces, as they offer one of the cheapest alternatives for Los Angeles parking.
The majority of metered parking spaces across LA are in effect from 8 AM to 8 PM. Failing to move your vehicle out a minute later than required could result in a parking citation. If you have trouble finding street parking, you can always book a spot for LA parking online through Way.com.
Take Your Time to Make Sure You Are Parked Right
Even if you have the precision of a racing driver, it is always best to double-check your parked car and make sure no wheels are outside the parking space. One of the easiest ways to bag a parking citation is to be charged $35 for failing to comply with parking space markings. Apart from the legal issues, if you overlap the marking and park irresponsibly, you are also taking away another driver’s right to park at a vacant and legal street parking space. When it is challenging to get Los Angeles parking, you are not helping improve the situation by careless parking. Always take enough time to ensure that you are parked legally.
Do Not Hesitate to Go to Parking Garages
Good parking is never cheap, and cheap parking will not always be good parking. If you genuinely care about your car, do not hesitate to go to parking garages for Los Angeles parking. You will not be ticketed for an expired parking meter or improper parking. You get access to premium features like contactless parking, and that too for just a dollar or two more.
Renée Martin is a travel and car expert who focuses on road and air travel in the U.S. For the past 6 years, she’s been helping make driving and trip planning easier and budget-friendly for everyday travelers.
