Valleywide : Volunteer Inspectors May Police Violators

Residents may soon volunteer as junior city inspectors under a proposal introduced Wednesday by Los Angeles City Councilwoman Laura Chick.

Under Chick’s plan, volunteers would be trained to catch code violations in their neighborhoods and collect such evidence as photographs of the violations to be turned over to city inspectors.

“In an era of fiscal constrains, the city must embrace more creative ways of enforcing its codes,” said Chick, who represents parts of the west San Fernando Valley.

The so-called “Citizen Enforcement Corps” would keep an eye out for such violations as illegal commercial signs, housing additions that violate zoning rules, residential garages that are illegally used to run commercial auto shops and businesses that stay open beyond permitted hours.

Ken Bernstein, Chick’s planning deputy, said the volunteers would not have the power to cite violators but would be trained to provide information about the problem to city inspectors, who would confirm the violations before issuing a fine.

Volunteer corps members would be an advantage, he said, because they could catch violations that take place on the weekends when city inspectors usually do not work, he said.

Bernstein said the idea for the corps was born from the repeated complaints from residents who said the city is failing to enforce city codes.

Chick’s motion calls on the city’s chief legislative analyst’s office to report back to Chick in 60 days with recommendations on how to launch the corps.