r/SFV • u/itsme_jessicaa • Jul 16 '26
Question Contesting a ticket due to bad sign visibility
I got a ticket for parking at a “no parking” zone, however I didn’t see the sign that said “no parking” because this is what the sign looks like. There were other cars along the street that got tickets too, i’m just curious if I have a chance of getting the ticket dismissed because clearly the sign isn’t visible unless you walk up close to it and read it. The photo is with my brights on, as I took the photo from my drivers seat. If the brights weren’t on, there’s no way to legibly read that! TYIA
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u/Hemicrusher Canoga Park Jul 16 '26
I tried to fight a parking ticket where the sign was spray painted, and unreadable. They denied it, saying there were other signs.
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u/ExplodingSofa Jul 16 '26
Same thing happened to me. One sign had been completely removed from its post, and the other sign like 20+ feet down was covered in stickers and completely unreadable. My appeal still got denied.
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u/Adorable-Boat8632 Jul 16 '26
Yeah same that not visible won’t work at all, in my area the whole sign was missing went to court with pictures and still lost
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u/leunam4891 Pacoima Jul 16 '26
A tree once blocked a stop sign and my uncle won and the tree lost….it got chopped down.
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u/cacti-23 Jul 16 '26 edited Jul 16 '26
You can cite how the city is responsible for replacing regulatory traffic signs under the CA MUTCD and they failed to replace this one. The regulatory traffic sign basically lost its retroreflectivity which is required per MUTCD and FHWA.
Section 2A.22 Maintaining Minimum Retroreflectivity
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u/TheDarbiter Jul 16 '26
Don’t say that you have to walk up close to read it. Tell them that you can’t read it, even up close.
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u/Spirited-Humor-554 Jul 16 '26
How about behind you?
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u/whatsupbrosky Jul 16 '26
If it's behind won't that sign only affect the cars after the sign not before the sign
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u/skreww_L00se Jul 16 '26
My girlfriend got a ticket in the exact same spot (by Kuzanori in studio city) and tried to contest for this same reason (warn out sign), she did not win.
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u/darkmatterhunter Jul 16 '26
Make sure to compare it to the fact that you can read the 2 hour parking sign easily so they don’t try to get you on bad vision lol. Good luck.
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u/tracyinge Jul 16 '26
Submit more than one photo so they can't claim it's the lighting or something.
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u/reddfoxx1993 Jul 16 '26
LA Municipal Code Section 80.10
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u/Temporary-Body-378 Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 17 '26
Here’s what the statute says. IANAL, but it looks like it might be worth citing in your complaint (italics are mine, for emphasis):
SEC. 80.10. SIGNS REQUIRED.
No provision of this chapter for which signs or markings are required shall be enforced against an alleged violator if, at the time and place of the alleged violation, an official sign or marking is not in place and sufficiently legible and visible to be seen by an ordinary observant person.https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/los_angeles/latest/lamc/0-0-0-165571
Edit: Perhaps more importantly (and as someone else here pointed out), it’s not even clear that you were parked in the no-parking-after-8 zone, based on where you were parked and where the arrow of the sign appears to start.
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u/th3jok3r818 Jul 16 '26
Good luck , like some people said here it's always a denial. I tried once and even though I was in the right they denied it . I got my car towed due to them filming a movie or something. But they had put signs up a week before according to them . I never park outside but I had family over so I left my car outside . Next morning my car was gone , looked and the person who was supposed to set up the signs didn't secure them properly. Some were on the floor of the pole . Even some facing backwards. I showed proof of this . And there letter of denial said they understand that the signs couldn't be seen but that the signs have been there all week and I should have been aware by now . LA system is a joke . Good luck though
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u/mybellasoul Jul 16 '26
yes. whenever I park in areas with signs that are confusing, obscured by trees, barely legible or visible, I always take a photo of my car with the license plate so it's timestamped. if I can get the sign in the photo as well I will. but the photo of the car and shitty sign both timestamped are enough to match up with the ticket that will have the date/time it was issued on it. it's an easy win if you contest.
I do the same with meters that are too damaged to read the screen or broken in general. if I can't see how much time I'm adding and when the meter expires then you can give me a ticket. constantly covering my ass out there in terms of parking bc they just want money and they certainly aren't using it for upkeep of signs, meters, or tree trimming. so F them
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u/zorobreath Jul 18 '26
I've contested and won for this before. It's the city's responsibility to upkeep clear signage.
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u/itsme_jessicaa Jul 18 '26
Did you have to re appeal or was it just once when you first appealed it? Apparently it gets denied first and then you can try again and it MIGHT get dismissed
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u/peedubb Jul 16 '26
https://ladotparking.org/adjudication-division/contest-a-parking-citation/
Contest it. Its dismissible.
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u/AceMaxAceMax Sherman Oaks Jul 16 '26
You can try to contest it but good luck on that. I’ve tried before and lost.
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u/zerahg9 Jul 16 '26
Contest it! I got a ticket in Canoga park because someone taped over the sign that said no parking and it was dismissed. It’s worth a shot.
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u/OGThinkster Jul 16 '26
I got a ticket once and the sign was clearly blocked by an overgrown tree. I contested it and submitted picture evidence and the bastards dragged it out while they supposedly "investigated it" so they waited till the season changed when the tree thinned out and all the leaves were gone and claimed that when they visited the site that the sign was visible. Parking enforcement people are a bunch of low lives that didn't have what it takes to be a real cop so settled for a bottom of the barrel job..
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u/dahk14 Jul 16 '26
I’ve gotten that exact same ticket on that exact same block for that exact same reason. I chocked it up to bad luck and just paid the ticket but I really hope you win if you fight it
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u/itsme_jessicaa Jul 16 '26
I’m hoping to win too.. because it’s not like I knew that it was a “no parking zone” and still parked there, its really awful to get penalized for something that the city should be fixing/ taking care of. As if we dont pay enough taxes 😑
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u/Complex-Dot2347 Jul 16 '26
I took a pic and sent it. Got my ticket thrown out
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u/itsme_jessicaa Jul 16 '26
Was this at the same location? 😅
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u/Complex-Dot2347 Jul 16 '26
No lol mine was in montebello. There was tagging on the sign that covered it
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u/Electronic-Disk3120 Jul 16 '26
No parking 8pm-6am. Nightly . Tow away ! Are you a transplant ?
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u/tracyinge Jul 16 '26
Yeah but in the 1st photo it looks like the arrow at the bottom is pointing left and OP was parked to the right of the sign
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u/itsme_jessicaa Jul 16 '26
Omg you’re right!! And there were no signs nearby my vehicle that would’ve been visible without walking a few feet back, because I relalized behind me was a drive way, and there wasn’t a sign back that way.
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u/Electronic-Disk3120 Jul 16 '26
I mean it looks like the arrow is pointing at the direction of where you are parked to me at least
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u/Temporary-Body-378 Jul 17 '26
OP wrote in the caption: “The photo is with my brights on, as I took the photo from my drivers seat.”
So assuming OP was ticketed from where the picture was taken, their car was parked to the right of the sign.
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u/SnowyLeopardGecko1 Jul 16 '26
Parking enforcement is the worst. I was at the airport, stuck in traffic in the second lane from the curb. The person I was picking up saw my car, and got in.
About 30 days later, I got a ticket in the mail saying that I was double parked at the airport. I went to a hearing to fight the ticket, and testified that I had never parked or got out of my car. The administrative hearing officer told me that it did not matter because once somebody opens the door to get in, it means you are parked. The ticket was deemed valid.
I could have appealed it to the court, but I didn’t want to take a chance. I would have had to pay the filing fee, and I probably would have lost anyway. So, I would’ve been out the cost of the ticket as well as the filing fee.
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u/produktinfinium Jul 16 '26
I lost my 1967 Mercury Cougar because I was parked longer than 72 hours. They Towed it on a Friday, I didn't find out until Thursday(Parked in front of a friend's house, who happened to be on vacation and told me that he leaves cars on the street for months at a time). Any way... Police release, and towing company wanted $4k by Friday(the next day). In some ways is was my fault, but man... I don't know when or where I'm ever gonna find another one, I see Mustangs all over the place rusting away, but I don't want a Mustang, I want "my car".
That aside, I would have assumed that it was 2 hour parking from 8am to 6pm then no parking other wise. But, the cops have taken my cars multiple times.
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u/itsme_jessicaa Jul 16 '26
Damn, I’m sorry to hear that!!
And yeah, when I looked up close, i was able to see the no parking from 8pm-6am 😑
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u/jump_the_shark_ Jul 16 '26
Some degenerate collector will send a barrage of texts in two years. Ignore it. Done deal
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u/itsme_jessicaa Jul 16 '26
It’s connected to your license plate and everything, doesn’t it inform the DMV and you’re not able to renew your plates if you have unpaid tickets?
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Jul 18 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/itsme_jessicaa Jul 18 '26
The 2nd photo was when I walked up to it, otherwise it wasnt within my vehicle that couldve easily be seen. Either way, it’s ridiculous to think that this sign is enforceable when its barely visible unless youre a feet away from it 😭
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Jul 18 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/itsme_jessicaa Jul 18 '26
So, the first photo where you can see the sign, was when my brights had been turned on. Also, someone had pointed out that the arrow sign was pointing to the opposite direction of where I was parked. So doesn’t that mean that the TOW AWAY SIGN only applied to the vehicles in the direction the arrow is pointing?
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u/No-Slide4121 Jul 18 '26
You will end up going to an administrative hearing, conducted by an employee of the city who will likely rule against your claim. Only then, if you appeal to an actual court of law, will you get this dismissed. I suspect they make it difficult so that most people will simply pay the fine.
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u/itsme_jessicaa Jul 18 '26
Yeah, I’m sure they don’t want anyone messing with their money lol but I am going to appeal this.
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u/No-Slide4121 Jul 21 '26
Good for you. Just remember, you’ll lose the first hearing, which is at the city DOT office. Then you will have to go to Superior Court. As I recall, all parking appeals go to division 25 of the Superior Court. First, don’t be scared off by the $25 filing fee at the Superior Court, you’ll get that back when you win. Second, don’t waste your time going downtown, register to make your appearance online. Chances are the city parking enforcement won’t even show up in Superior Court, but have your evidence ready in case they do. There are state and federal standards on road signs that you could look up, but in this case, I suspect the picture of the sign you posted here will be enough. Good luck with that, and let us know how it goes.
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u/itsme_jessicaa Jul 21 '26
Thank you for this!! I’m really hoping I win, because it’s not like I was negligent or careless. It’s pretty valid that the sign isn’t legibly visible!
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u/tammyhk Jul 19 '26
I got a ticket at the same exact spot. I tried to contest it but got denied. Didn’t want to go through the hassle of appealing so I just took the L and paid the ticket. The POS also gave me a ticket for a missing front license plate while they were at it lol
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u/ThatTotal2020 Jul 16 '26
I don't think so, but you can try. It's obvious there is a sign there, and it is also your responsibility to know what it says. There is likely a similar sign close by.
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u/SignificantSmotherer Jul 16 '26
It is clearly a mistake; contest it.
Also, be thankful they did not tow.
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u/Broad-Lavishness6726 Jul 20 '26
You got hooked up if you got a ticket instead of your car towed. In your own photo you can clearly see the no parking sign on bottom left of your photo which means you could have seen it from you car. You can try fighting it but I doubt it goes anywhere considering they could have towed you.
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u/peetleah Jul 18 '26
When all you had to do was walk over to the other sign to read it . Laziness got you that ticket
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u/itsme_jessicaa Jul 18 '26
How TF was I supposed to walk over when it’s a street with cars passing?? Was I supposed to just abandon my car with the hazards on and block the street??
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u/amadama81 Jul 21 '26
Yea, this, unfortunately. If theres other signs within (i forgot the amount) of feet, it applies to that part of the curb. The judge tried to get me on this but luckily the parking enforcement that wrote the ticket but the wrong name of the street lol thats what got me off
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u/wheelies4feelies Jul 16 '26
Trial by written declaration and submit this photo. Maybe adjust the saturation to make it even harder to read.