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FYI Free Parking at L.A. Meters still in effect

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Widdletink, Mar 8, 2006.

  1. Widdletink

    Widdletink Member

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    Hi All,

    I was cruising the net tonight and decided to check and see where things were with the free parking meter benefit at Los Angeles meters. When I last dealt with this issue (in mid 2005) the benefit was about to expire and with the new mayor coming into town it was anyones guess what he do.

    Well, it seems that the program has been extended for an additional 8-month pilot trial which is due to expire at midnight on June 30, 2006. A modification to the original offering is that in order to qualify, the vehicle has to display the same DMV Clean Air decals that allow us in the carpool lanes.

    Now that I am aware of the fact that this benefit is still available, I plan to do the following: 1) Print out a copy of the offering and its rules to keep in my car and place visibly on my dash whenever I use this benefit. 2) Print out another map of the city of Los Angeles to ensure that I am actually within city limits when I do use the benefit. 3) Lobby for this benefit to be adopted permanently by contacting the appropriate parties. And finally 4) Use it as often as I can "just because".

    I have copied the text and the link to the site at LADOT where the information can be found below.

    Enjoy!

    Tisza

    http://www.lacity.org/ladot/freepark.htm

    FREE PARKING INFO

    FREE PARKING FOR ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES (ZEVS), SUPER ULTRA LOW EMISSION VEHICLES (SULEVs) AND CERTAIN HYBRID VEHICLES - PILOT PROGRAM

    :lol: If you own a Zero Emission Vehicle or Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle as defined by the California Air Resources Board, you may purchase a California Clean Air Vehicle Decal from the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Once you have purchased and affixed the decal to your vehicle per DMV instructions, you can park without depositing coins at on- and off-street metered parking spaces throughout the City of Los Angeles (however, you remain subject to the posted time limit restrictions and other higher order parking restrictions like Tow Away and Street Cleaning.)

    On October 1, 2004, participation in this free metered parking program was extended to four hybrid vehicle models: the Honda Insight, Honda Civic Hybrid, Toyota Prius, and the Ford Escape Hybrid. The eight-month pilot program for hybrid vehicles is due to expire at midnight on June 30, 2006.

    To find out if your vehicle qualifies, click here: www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/carpool/carpool.htm

    To find out how to obtain a California Clean Air Vehicle Decal, click here: www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/decal.htm
     
  2. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    So Tisza, is this "sticker-for-a-fee" the HOV lane access sticker??
     
  3. seeh2o

    seeh2o Prius OG

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    Widdletink,

    FYI...I don't think you need to worry about putting a notice on your dashboard. There are so many Prius around Los Angeles I don't think it's a problem. I've been parking my car at meters for free since the program began and have never had a ticket. I spoke with a (their new and improved title is escaping me right now) "meter maid" while she was giving out tickets one day, she said that she and her colleagues don't have any problems identifying Prius because they have such a distinctive look, what they do have problems with are the Honda Civics because they exactly like a regular Civic the "meter maids" have to wander around the car to look for the hybrid badge.
     
  4. Emma

    Emma New Member

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    I doesn't sound like they should have to search out the hybrid badge. It sounds to me like you are only permitted to take advantage of this benefit if you purchase the sticker from the City...which would mean all the officials have to do is look for the sticker.
     
  5. Darwin23

    Darwin23 New Member

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    i used that free parking yesterday when i had to go to an appointment in downtown L.A. Came back to my parking spot 2.5 hours later and no ticker.
     
  6. Widdletink

    Widdletink Member

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    Hi All,

    Tochatiu, long time not talk and yes, they are referring to our yellow $8.00 DMV carpool access stickers. Also, I agree that our cars are plenty distinctive in design, however last year when I took advantage of this benefit for the very first time I did indeed receive a parking ticket that took time, energy and cost lots of aggrevation to get cle.ared up.

    Things may indeed be different now as these cars are a lot more prevelant now than they were, but I don't want to take any chances. Whether you are right or not, having to fight the city is not as much fun as you think it might be. Also, if you drive a classic, they do bear a striking resembelance to an echo to the uninitiated. And meter maids (I don't care what the pc term is, I actually used to refer to the one that haunted my neighborhood in L.A. as the "Parking Nazi") are still expected to write a certain amount of tickets per day. I just don't want to help them fill their books.

    Take care all and don't forget to contact the powers that be to thank them for extending this benifit and to lobby for the continuation of the offering past the June 30, 2006 deadline.

    Take care all and have a super day!

    Tisza
     
  7. scrivener

    scrivener New Member

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    Love this perk, especially when parking downtown on weekends. To see whether I'm in the city of Los Angeles (when not obvious), I look on the meter for the plate that says, "City of Los Angeles" or "LADOT" - something like that. The other incorporated cities have different plaques. So far this has worked for me. To keep the privilege in play, call/write Eric Garcetti's office - he was instrumental in getting this pilot program going:

    Council District 13
    MAIN OFFICE
    City Hall Office
    200 North Spring Street,
    Room 470
    Los Angeles, California 90012
    (213) 473-7013
    Fax:(213) 613 0819

    Council District 13 DISTRICT OFFICE
    Hollywood District Office
    5500 Hollywood Blvd., 4th Floor
    Hollywood, CA 90028
    Phone: 323-957-4500

    E-Mail Address: [email protected]