Ticket May Withstand Test of Time

Dear Traffic Talk:

On Dec. 5--a Saturday--I got a ticket for parking on the west side of Woodley Avenue, just north of Ventura Boulevard. It’s a yellow zone with a sign above that says, “Except on Saturday and Sunday.”

I unsuccessfully appealed the ticket to the proper department. I also appealed it to the Municipal Court, and the judge agreed with me and reversed the ticket on May 21.

How can the city issue parking tickets on a weekend when the sign states that weekends are excepted? Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who have paid and haven’t contested the ticket. It’s a matter of principle.

I want to know why the city feels justified in issuing parking tickets when they have no reason to.

Hourig Kalebdjian

Encino

Dear Hourig:

There is no justification for issuing a parking ticket when there wasn’t a violation, according to James Sherman, parking administrator for the city’s Department of Transportation.

However, you may have deserved the ticket, depending on what time you received it.

You parked your vehicle in a commercial loading zone on a Saturday. The city’s municipal code states that the commercial loading zones are effective from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day except Sunday. You may not stop there any longer than five minutes to unload passengers or baggage, Sherman said.

Parking inspectors checked the location where you received your citation, he said. If you parked in this area between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on a Saturday, you would not have been towed away, but you could still technically be cited for parking in a commercial loading zone, Sherman said.

The “except Saturday and Sunday” you saw refers to a sign that states all vehicles may not park in that commercial loading zone from 3 to 6 p.m., including delivery vehicles, Sherman said.

“If the citation was issued before 6 p.m., it may be valid,” Sherman said. “If it was issued after 6 p.m., then it was issued in error.”

Dear Traffic Talk:

Could you please give me some pointers on what to do if you are driving when an earthquake happens?

Kim Henderson

Sherman Oaks

Dear Kim:

If you are driving and there is an earthquake large enough for you to feel, there are a few things you should do, according to Officer Lou Aviles, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol.

First, be aware of how your vehicle feels, as many people say they have the sensation of having a flat tire. You should slow down without slamming your brakes and move to the right when it’s safe and clear of any billboards, bridges or overpasses.

If you are on an overpass or a bridge, scan the area and see where the best place to stop would be.

Unless it is an emergency, try to avoid using your cell phone since most of the system will probably be overloaded.

Drive safely and be aware of aftershocks, which may send debris falling onto the roadway.

Have alternate routes planned in case of road closures. It is also a good idea to carry a sort of emergency pack in your car, with a flashlight, a blanket, water, an area map and a spare tire.

Finally, be aware of emergency vehicles that may be trying to pass.

“Remember, it’s better to take your time and be safe and arrive in one piece than to rush and not arrive at all,” Aviles said.

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Traffic Talk appears Fridays in The Times Valley Edition. Readers may submit comments and questions about traffic in the Valley to Traffic Talk, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311. Include your name, address and phone number. Letters may be edited, and no anonymous letters will be accepted. Fax letters to (818) 772-3385. E-mail questions to valley.news@latimes.com.