LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Jesus Pimentel is hoping to do what many Angelenos who have faced parking citations have likely dreamed about: take the city to court.
Pimentel is the lead plaintiff in a federal class action lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles that claims the fines he was required to pay for parking at an expired meter on Eighth Street last year are excessive and unconstitutional, according to reports.
READ MORE: Día De Los Muertos Celebrations and Others Return To LAThe 19-page lawsuit claims the $175 “excessive fine” — which included the initial $63 fine, its doubling after two weeks of non-payment, a $28 “delinquent” fee and $21 “collection fee” — violated the U.S. and California constitutions’ due process clause, Courthouse News reported.
The lawsuit also claims the DMV’s threats to withhold registration of his car, potentially boot or seize the vehicle if the $175 fine was not paid along, and report him to a credit bureau is unconstitutional, attorney Donald Norris said.
“There’s a clause called the ‘excessive fines’ clause, which prevents government from imposing fines that, according to the United States Supreme Court, are grossly disproportionate to the underlying offense,” Norris told KNX1070 NEWSRADIO.
