> 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