Odd or Even? That Was the Question

With the nation in the midst of an

energy crisis, Los

Angeles County supervisors voted to implement Gov. Ronald

Reagan’s gas rationing plan, which would allow motorists to go to gas stations only on odd or even weekdays, depending on the last digit of their license plates. A week earlier, fistfights and attempted vehicular

homicides had been reported as motorists tried to fill up before the long Washington’s Birthday weekend. At one point, all of the LAPD units in the Southwest Division were assigned to traffic duty to help the situation.

Motorists had to wait in line for hours even if all they wanted to do was top off their tanks.