Hi All...
Golly gee... sure sorry I missed "HI" day....Looked like fun!!! Seems I
have missed alot lately... The ol' body is giving me a hard time.. and just as
sure as the wind blows... the computer decided to give us a hard time
too...LOL.... Thank goodness we finally got the puter working at its optimum
level.... now if only this ol' body would get the message to function at its
optimum level... [Gotta keep dreaming... Dreams are soooo good for the
spirit!!!] :-))
I hope this message finds everyone relatively healthy and happy.... Hang in
there gang... I know somedays can be really tough... Keep those spirits
soaring!!!!
Well, besides all the other fun action in my life... I have been fighting
the City of Los Angeles on a parking ticket that I received some time ago
parked outside of Cedars Sinai Hospital while receiving treatment....
Get this... I started my day at 9:00am... and finally got out at 2:05pm...
(Some days at the docs are really long... with my lupus flared and TM brewing
.. it seems my doctors appointments turn into real productions...) Anyhow....
I got out to the car, and low and behold, the cars up and down the street were
riddled with tickets for---of all things--- "STREET SWEEPING". My first
question, is how can the sweep the streets if NO BODY IS MOVING THEIR CARS?
Please note: My car wasn't the only car thereà Every parking spot on the
street was FULL! I wonder how LA is successfully clean the streets if no one
is moving their cars? My only conclusion...They must come back to do it at
night!
Needless to say, I decided to fight this ticket, as I had successfully fought
a similar ticket in 1993 (also for street sweeping-while parked in front of
the hospital) which the City hesitantly "wrote off" after receiving an angry
phone call from an elected City Official. But that did not happen with this
recent ticket... This time, instead of calling, the City official forwarded
my letterà
Now, here is my problem....The City of Los Angeles Parking division
acknowledges that special parking priviledges exist for Handicapped
Individuals ---and in his letter states that the placard RELEASES me from
PARKING TIME ZONE RESTRICTIONS. (California Vehicle Code views illegal
parking for handicapped to be Red Zones, No Parking at Any Time, Emergency
Zones, Yellow Commercial Loading Zones, and White Loading Zones) but the
Parking Administrator quotes, 'special handicapped privileges do not apply to
zones for which a local ordinance prohibits the parking of all vehiclesà.' If
that is the case, shouldn't the city have this area painted RED? Or shouldn't
they be towing the cars, to enforce the issue, since no one appears to be
moving their cars?
However, if a parking zone is restricted for 2 hours-every Wednesday--- From
1:00pm - 3:00pm, isn't this considered a "parking time zone restriction"?
Sure seems so to meà Many neighboring cities, Monrovia, Pasadena, Alhambra
follow this rule. It appears the California Vehicle Code have been
misinterpreted by City of LA's Parking Administrator. If you are hooked up to
an IV, how can you move your vehicle so they can sweep the streets? Doesn't
this seem absurd---street sweeping in the middle of a business day?
Has anyone else experienced anything like this before? Just a thoughtà if
keeping the LA's streets clean is SO important, couldn't they sweep it after
6:00pm when most doctor' offices and outpatient facilities close?! It seems
this is more a money making scheme for the city, as last year my girlfriend
received 12 (for a total of over $400) tickets while receiving dialysis.
Unfortunately, she is on a limited income, but is entirely too sick to fight
her street sweeping tickets. Parking is a horrible problem in or near the
hospital - and it seems Los Angeles is taking advantage of those who have to
park to receive treatment!!!
And now, get thisàAfter opening up this can of worms, I have an even bigger
problemà.The L.A. Parking Administrator has now realized their initial
mistake, by writing off the old 1993 ticket, and has contacted the L.A. City
Attorney who has threatened: Seizure of Property; Attachment of Wages;
Additional Court Action and Litigation Costs if I don't pay for BOTH tickets,
plus fines! It is amazing, they legally released me of my obligation in 1993,
now they expect to turn back the clock and correct their mistake, by making me
pay. I didn't think this was legal.
Now another problem, DMV won't issue a current tag without ticket
paid/written off-I can't legally drive handicapped vehicle-on the streets
without ticket, and fines removed from my record. My car can be legally towed,
and more tickets issued citing a non-registered vehicle without a current a
tag. Only thing is, DMV only shows the most recent ticket, as DMV legally
removed the 1993 ticket years ago. But this is amazing-in the most recent
turn of events --- DMV requires that full registration/ operating fees be paid
-I had to pay $274 for my car to sit unused until problem with City of L.A is
resolved --- DMV states this situation "does not fall under the category of
non-operational vehicle because car is drivable. Where will this end?
But my biggest problem is that the American Disabilities Act is not
enforced---
-NO HANDICAPPED PARKING IS PROVIDED AS REQUIRED--DISABILITIES ACT
-$12-$16/day in the private lots-Valets park Mercedes, Lexus, etc. in
Handicap spots.
-Hospital removed 6 handicapped spots outside of entrances -The Hosptial
converted these old handicapped spots to "Loading Only"
-No Public Handicapped spots available during sweet sweeping.
-What happened to "Equal Access for the disabled?"
Sometimes I wish I would've just dropped the whole thing, and paid the stupid
ticketà.But I keep wondering.. If I doàwho is gonna fight for the rights of
those disabled... Someone has to pick up the ball and run with it! What the
City of Los Angeles is doing is outrageous!!!! I guess in this case, I got
the ballà Now, HELP!à I don't know what to do with it!!! I've contacted a
friend who is an attorney, and he thinks I should keep onà keeping on, but
warned that I need a Civil Rights Attorneyà Thankfully, I was given the name
of a wheel chair bound Civil Rights guyà but sadly he is fighting his own
battle with an undisclosed illness, and couldn't take this "interesting case."
Out of despiration, I then contacted, Gloria Allred's firm, but because it is
not a high $$$ case, they chose not to accept ità.
Being handicapped I recognize this situation is an abuse to all handicapped
individuals or sick individuals who park in or near Cedars Sinai Hospital.
Makes me wonder how many other Los Angeles hospitals have this street sweeping
thing happening.... After all these years, something needs to be done to
preserve our rights to park without a penalty, not to mention preserve our
dignity. Parking shouldn't be unavailable and punishable by fines when needed
the mostà Besides, why should we have to pay for something we don't have any
control over?--When we are at the doctors/hospital we are at the mercy of
those who order tests/administer treatment! We shouldn't be punished for how
long these things take!!!
Now, I am struggling to find someone willing to helpà.Does anyone out there
have any ideas?? Or, does anyone know of a California Civil Rights Attorney
willing to take on the City of Los Angeles to alliviate the serious parking
conditions in front of the hospital?
Thanks for listening to my grumblings. Sorry for my long ramblings... but
this has been a pretty tough month all the way aroundà Looking forward to a
brighter tomorrowà
Janie
>>
From: SHIGETTE(AT)aol.com
Return-path: <SHIGETTE(AT)aol.com>
To: tmic-list(AT)eskimo.com
Subject: Hospital Parking Problems....
Date: Sun, 27 Sep 1998 19:40:26 EDT
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Hi All...
Golly gee... sure sorry I missed "HI" day....Looked like fun!!! Seems I have
missed alot lately... The ol' body is giving me a hard time.. and just as sure
as the wind blows... the computer decided to give us a hard time too...LOL....
Thank goodness we finally got the puter working at its optimum level.... now
if only this ol' body would get the message to function at its optimum
level... [Gotta keep dreaming... Dreams are soooo good for the spirit!!!]
:-))
I hope this message finds everyone relatively healthy and happy.... Hang in
there gang... I know somedays can be really tough... Keep those spirits
soaring!!!!
Well, besides all the other fun action in my life... I have been fighting the
City of Los Angeles on a parking ticket that I received some time ago parked
outside of Cedars Sinai Hospital while receiving treatment....
Get this... I started my day at 9:00am... and finally got out at 2:05pm...
(Some days at the docs are really long... with my lupus flared and TM brewing
.. it seems my doctors appointments turn into real productions...) Anyhow....
I got out to the car, and low and behold, the cars up and down the street were
riddled with tickets for---of all things--- "STREET SWEEPING". My first
question, is how can the sweep the streets if NO BODY IS MOVING THEIR CARS?
Please note: My car wasn't the only car thereà Every parking spot on the
street was FULL! I wonder how LA is successfully clean the streets if no one
is moving their cars? My only conclusion...They must come back to do it at
night!
Needless to say, I decided to fight this ticket, as I had successfully fought
a similar ticket in 1993 (also for street sweeping-while parked in front of
the hospital) which the City hesitantly "wrote off" after receiving an angry
phone call from an elected City Official. But that did not happen with this
recent ticket... This time, instead of calling, the City official forwarded
my letterà
Now, here is my problem....The City of Los Angeles Parking division
acknowledges that special parking priviledges exist for Handicapped
Individuals ---and in his letter states that the placard RELEASES me from
PARKING TIME ZONE RESTRICTIONS. (California Vehicle Code views illegal
parking for handicapped to be Red Zones, No Parking at Any Time, Emergency
Zones, Yellow Commercial Loading Zones, and White Loading Zones) but the
Parking Administrator quotes, 'special handicapped privileges do not apply to
zones for which a local ordinance prohibits the parking of all vehiclesà.' If
that is the case, shouldn't the city have this area painted RED? Or shouldn't
they be towing the cars, to enforce the issue, since no one appears to be
moving their cars?
However, if a parking zone is restricted for 2 hours-every Wednesday--- From
1:00pm - 3:00pm, isn't this considered a "parking time zone restriction"?
Sure seems so to meà Many neighboring cities, Monrovia, Pasadena, Alhambra
follow this rule. It appears the California Vehicle Code have been
misinterpreted by City of LA's Parking Administrator. If you are hooked up to
an IV, how can you move your vehicle so they can sweep the streets? Doesn't
this seem absurd---street sweeping in the middle of a business day?
Has anyone else experienced anything like this before? Just a thoughtà if
keeping the LA's streets clean is SO important, couldn't they sweep it after
6:00pm when most doctor' offices and outpatient facilities close?! It seems
this is more a money making scheme for the city, as last year my girlfriend
received 12 (for a total of over $400) tickets while receiving dialysis.
Unfortunately, she is on a limited income, but is entirely too sick to fight
her street sweeping tickets. Parking is a horrible problem in or near the
hospital - and it seems Los Angeles is taking advantage of those who have to
park to receive treatment!!!
And now, get thisàAfter opening up this can of worms, I have an even bigger
problemà.The L.A. Parking Administrator has now realized their initial
mistake, by writing off the old 1993 ticket, and has contacted the L.A. City
Attorney who has threatened: Seizure of Property; Attachment of Wages;
Additional Court Action and Litigation Costs if I don't pay for BOTH tickets,
plus fines! It is amazing, they legally released me of my obligation in 1993,
now they expect to turn back the clock and correct their mistake, by making me
pay. I didn't think this was legal.
Now another problem, DMV won't issue a current tag without ticket paid/written
off-I can't legally drive handicapped vehicle-on the streets without ticket,
and fines removed from my record. My car can be legally towed, and more
tickets issued citing a non-registered vehicle without a current a tag. Only
thing is, DMV only shows the most recent ticket, as DMV legally removed the
1993 ticket years ago. But this is amazing-in the most recent turn of events
--- DMV requires that full registration/ operating fees be paid -I had to pay
$274 for my car to sit unused until problem with City of L.A is resolved ---
DMV states this situation "does not fall under the category of non-operational
vehicle because car is drivable. Where will this end?
But my biggest problem is that the American Disabilities Act is not
enforced---
-NO HANDICAPPED PARKING IS PROVIDED AS REQUIRED--DISABILITIES ACT
-$12-$16/day in the private lots-Valets park Mercedes, Lexus, etc. in Handicap
spots.
-Hospital removed 6 handicapped spots outside of entrances -The Hosptial
converted these old handicapped spots to "Loading Only"
-No Public Handicapped spots available during sweet sweeping.
-What happened to "Equal Access for the disabled?"
Sometimes I wish I would've just dropped the whole thing, and paid the stupid
ticketà.But I keep wondering.. If I doàwho is gonna fight for the rights of
those disabled... Someone has to pick up the ball and run with it! What the
City of Los Angeles is doing is outrageous!!!! I guess in this case, I got
the ballà Now, HELP!à I don't know what to do with it!!! I've contacted a
friend who is an attorney, and he thinks I should keep onà keeping on, but
warned that I need a Civil Rights Attorneyà Thankfully, I was given the name
of a wheel chair bound Civil Rights guyà but sadly he is fighting his own
battle with an undisclosed illness, and couldn't take this "interesting case."
Out of despiration, I then contacted, Gloria Allred's firm, but because it is
not a high $$$ case, they chose not to accept ità.
Being handicapped I recognize this situation is an abuse to all handicapped
individuals or sick individuals who park in or near Cedars Sinai Hospital.
Makes me wonder how many other Los Angeles hospitals have this street sweeping
thing happening.... After all these years, something needs to be done to
preserve our rights to park without a penalty, not to mention preserve our
dignity. Parking shouldn't be unavailable and punishable by fines when needed
the mostà Besides, why should we have to pay for something we don't have any
control over?--When we are at the doctors/hospital we are at the mercy of
those who order tests/administer treatment! We shouldn't be punished for how
long these things take!!!
Now, I am struggling to find someone willing to helpà.Does anyone out there
have any ideas?? Or, does anyone know of a California Civil Rights Attorney
willing to take on the City of Los Angeles to alliviate the serious parking
conditions in front of the hospital?
Thanks for listening to my grumblings. Sorry for my long ramblings... but
this has been a pretty tough month all the way aroundà Looking forward to a
brighter tomorrowà
Janie