Parking Exemption for Press Draws Criticism

Fearing a potential loss of revenue as well as a “serious loss of integrity” in Los Angeles city government, Controller Rick Tuttle on Friday blasted a Department of Transportation proposal that would exempt the news media from many parking restrictions.

Tuttle conceded that he has no binding influence on the proposal but nonetheless said he sent letters Friday to the mayor and City Council President Pat Russell, asking them to stop its implementation.

Members of the news media, he said, can afford to pay their parking tickets.

Plan Called Unfair

“It is unfair to the rest of the people of the city of Los Angeles who have to pay their tickets or go to court and argue their case,” Tuttle said at a press conference. “Once we start down the slippery slope of giving exemptions to a special class of people or a business based on someone’s perception of the public value of their profession, then when do we stop?”

“There are, in my judgment, revenue implications and a perception . . . of a serious loss of integrity in the system,” Tuttle said.

The proposed press parking policy, drafted by city Parking Administrator Robert R. Yates after meetings with members of a Los Angeles-area television and radio news association, was first publicized by The Times earlier this week.

Yates contends that the “quasi-public service” that the news media provide entitles them to the same parking courtesies already afforded other government agencies and on-duty employees of public utilities.

Initially, Yates said he expected that the new policy would go into effect by year’s end. But on Friday, he said it may be a month or more before it is implemented.

Subject for Review

“If the mayor and council review it and decide not to do it, that would be just fine,” Yates said. “This is being blown a little bit out of proportion. Certainly, it’s much easier for us to make no exceptions for the press.”

Aides to Russell and Mayor Tom Bradley said that Russell and Bradley had not yet reviewed the proposed media parking policy nor Tuttle’s letter asking that it be stopped.

Under Yates’ proposal, journalists conducting “the routine business of gathering news,” could have tickets voided if they parked overtime at parking meters while on assignment. They could also ignore restrictions posted in “time limit” parking zones where parking is limited to one or more hours and could park with impunity in “preferential parking districts”--usually neighborhoods where parking spaces for residents are at a premium.

Reporters and cameramen could park in “no parking” and commercial loading zones for a maximum of 20 minutes without being ticketed. In addition, during “major news events,” depending on the circumstances, they could even park in some “no stopping” areas.

Other Provisions

However, the news media would be obligated to obey other Los Angeles parking regulations, including those that prohibit parking along red curbs, near fire hydrants, in handicapped stalls, in “tow away” and taxi zones and in areas marked for street cleaning.

Tuttle, however, said he has some “serious concerns” over whether anyone should be exempt from having to pay parking fines, which this year are expected to net the city more than $52 million. He said he does not know specifically how much the city would stand to lose if the press parking policy were implemented.