Bill Banning Tickets At Broken Parking Meters Signed Into Law
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill Monday prohibiting cities from ticketing motorists who park at broken parking meters.
Assembly Bill 61, which passed the state senate in July, prevents cities in California from citing drivers who park at broken meters for up to the maximum time normally permitted.
Assemblyman Mike Gatto championed the bill, which will take effect in January 2014.
In Los Angeles, the City Council recently ended its policy of citing cars parked at broken meters, but had asked for a report in six months to determine if the city saw an increase in vandalism of meters. The law will prevent cities from citing drivers in the future.
"The question of parking at a broken meter should not be up for review or reconsideration every six months, nor should motorists be subject to confusing ordinances as they drive from city to city," said Assemblyman Gatto. "It's time to end this unfair practice throughout California."
Officials say the city's new parking meters are difficult to tamper with and send an electronic alert if they are out of order.
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