Los Angeles(Thechieftainspear) – Los Angeles is grappling with yet another budget shortfall, and this time, parking enforcement is at the center of the issue.
A recent analysis by independent news outlet Crosstown LA highlights a significant financial imbalance: the city is spending far more on enforcing parking regulations than it collects in fines. Data from City Controller Kenneth Mejia reveals that in the fiscal year ending June 2024, L.A. issued roughly 2 million parking tickets, generating about $110 million in revenue. However, the costs associated with enforcement—including salaries, equipment, pensions, and other liabilities—soared to over $176 million. This leaves the city with a staggering $65 million deficit.
This isn’t a new problem. Los Angeles has not made a profit from parking fines since 2016. The situation worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the city temporarily lifted some parking restrictions, leading to a sharp decline in ticket revenue. In the fiscal year ending June 2021, revenue from parking violations fell 37% compared to the previous year. Additionally, fewer commuters are driving into the city post-pandemic, reducing the number of vehicles violating parking rules.
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The city’s ongoing budget crisis has further strained enforcement efforts. The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) has seen a reduction in staffing, with over 60 positions eliminated in the 2024-25 budget. Many traffic officers have also retired, contributing to a decrease in fines collected.
Another factor impacting revenue is the shifting responsibilities of traffic officers. Since the pandemic, these officers have been assigned to various non-ticketing duties, such as managing traffic at large events, assisting with COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites, and supporting Mayor Karen Bass’s Inside Safe program, which focuses on housing the homeless.
LADOT is now pushing for additional hires in the next city budget, hoping that funding for more officers will be approved before the budget is finalized on April 21.
For a deeper dive into the data and methodology used by Crosstown LA, visit their full report .
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